THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 
MRS.  VIRGINIA  B.  SPORER 


THE   INVASION   OF 
FRANCE   IN    1814 


'THE  OLDEST  OF   WOMEN  WILL  BE  ALWAYS  TIIEBE  1" 


THE   INVASION   OF 
FRANCE   IN   1814 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH  OF 

ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 
1904 


COPYRIGHT,  1889  AND  1898, 
BY  CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 


CONTENTS 

CHAP.  PAGE 

I.  THE  OLD  SHOEMAKEK  AND  HIS  DAUGHTEB,       .  1 

II.  THE  SHOEMAKER'S  VISITOK,        ....  17 

III.  AT  PHALSBOURG, 29 

IV.  MADAME  LEFEVRE, 46 

V.  THE  DEPOT, 55 

VI.  AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINEERS,       .       .        .        .77 
VII.  RISING  OF  THE  PARTISANS,  ....  90 

VIII.  THE  LEADER, 100 

IX.  THE  CONSCRIPT, 109 

X.  ROBIN'S  VISION, 123 

XI.  A  RECONNOISSANCE,      .....        .  133 

XII.  THE  LANDLORD  OP  THE  "PINEAPPLE,"     .        .  139 

XIII.  ROUND  THE  WATCHFIRES, 159 

XIV.  "FORWARD!    FORWARD!" 169 

XV.  THE  BATTLE  RENEWED, 183 

XVI.  PAINFUL  SCENES,  .  200 

XVII.  ROUND  THE  FESTIVE  BOARD,      .       .       .        .311 
XVIII.  THE  CAVE  OF  LUITPBANDT,        ....  219 

XIX.  GASPARD'S  LETTER, 230 

XX.  THE  SURPRISE, 341 

XXI.  "  ALL  is  LOST," 266 

XXII.  ON  THE  FALKEN  STEIN, 280 

XXIII.  MARC  DIVES'S  MISSION 286 

XXIV.  A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE, 294 

XXV.  "  BATTLE  OF  THE  ROCKS," 305 

XXVI.  CONCLUSION,  ...  ....  321 


2041937 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

"THE  OLDEST  OF  WOMEN  WILL  BE  ALWAYS  THERE!" 

Frontispiece 

FACINQ 
PAGE 

THERE  WAS  A  GENERAL  SHOUT  OF  "  LONG  LIVE  FRANCE  ! "    96 

DOCTOR  LORQUIN, 106 

LOUISE  THROWING  HER  ARSIS  AROUND  GASPARD'S  NECK,  120 

THE    LUNATIC,    WAVING   HIS    SCEPTRE,    MADE    THEM    A 

DISCOURSE, 128 

BIG  DUBREUIL;  THE  FRIEND  OF  THE  ALLIES,  .  .  .172 
As  THEY  CLIMBED  UP  THEY  WERE  CLUBBED  WITH  MUSKETS,  180 
YEGOF  SALUTED  EACH  PHANTOM  WITH  SPARKLING  EYES,  226 
MANY  OF  THEM  WILL  NEVER  AGAIN  SEE  THEIR  FRIENDS,  270 

THERE  Go  UP   IN   SMOKE   FORTY  YEARS   OF  TOIL  AND 

TROUBLE, 284 

FOR  THREE  DAYS  PROVISIONS  HAD  COMPLETELY  FAILED,  308 
«LBT  cs  OVERWHELM  THKM,  AS  AT  BLUTFEUJ!"  .  .  318 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

THE  invasion  of  France  by  the  allied  armies  after 
the  battle  of  Leipsic  had  proved  the  German  cam- 
paign even  more  disastrous  than  that  of  Russia  the 
year  before,  was  not  only  essentially  the  death-blow 
to  the  power  of  Napoleon,  but  was  the  first  real  taste 
France  had  had  for  many  years  of  an  experience  she 
had  so  often  previously  meted  out  to  her  neighbors. 
In  spite  of  all  she  had  suffered  from  the  conscription, 
and  from  exhaustion  of  men  and  treasure  in  offen- 
sive war — or  at  least  war  waged  outside  her  own 
territory — the  great  Invasion  meant  for  her  some- 
thing far  more  terrible  than  any  reverses  she  had 
yet  undergone.  Napoleon  was  not  only  not  invin- 
cible, it  appeared,  he  was  not  even  able  to  defend 
the  frontiers  he  had  found  firmly  established  on  his 
accession  to  power.  The  allies  had  announced  that 
they  were  warring  not  against  France  but  against 
the  French  Emperor — "  against  the  preponderance 
that  Napoleon  had  too  long  exercised  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  empire."  Everywhere  in  France  except 

ix 


X  INTRODUCTORY   NOTE 

in  the  official  world  of  Paris,  the  once  enchanted 
name  of  Napoleon  had  become  recognized  as  a  syn- 
onym of  national  disaster. 

Nevertheless  nothing — except,  perhaps,  the  sim- 
ilar circumstances  of  the  Prussian  invasion  in  1870 
— has  ever  so  well  attested  the  fundamental  and  ab- 
sorbing patriotism  of  the  French  people  as  their 
heroic  resistance  to  this  invasion  and  their  instinc- 
tive and  universal  refusal  to  separate  in  this  crisis 
the  cause  of  their  Emperor  from  their  own.  The 
presence  of  a  foreign  foe  on  whatever  pretext  with- 
in their  boundaries  sufficed  to  arouse  them  en  masse. 
No  such  enthusiasm  had  been  known  since  the  days 
of  the  Republic's  and  the  Consulate's  victories  as 
was  awakened,  in  the  thick  of  national  disaster  and 
amid  the  ruin  of  all  ambitious  hopes,  by  the  thought 
of  an  enemy  within  the  borders  of  la  pa  trie.  And 
in  "  The  Invasion  "  of  MM.  Erckmann-Chatrian 
this  enthusiasm  and  devotion  find  a  chronicle  which 
is  most  realistically  impressive.  So  soon  as  the 
peasants  of  the  outlying  villages  of  the  eastern  fron- 
tier learn  of  the  impending  descent  of  the  Cossacks 
and  Germans,  without  thought  of  their  own  com- 
fort and  safety — which  it  is,  however,  impartially 
pointed  out  they  know  would  hardly  be  better  se- 
cured by  submission — they  organize  for  resistance. 
They  blockade  the  highways  and  defend  the  moun- 


INTRODUCTORY   NOTE  xi 

tain  passes.  Women  and  children  aid  in  the  work. 
While  the  siege  of  Phalsbourg  goes  on  the  heights 
are  occupied  by  sturdy  peasants  who  oppose  for  a 
while  an  effective  obstacle  to  the  passage  of  the  in- 
vaders. The  worst  hardships,  the  most  perilous  ad- 
ventures, are  accepted  by  them  with  the  heroic  cour- 
age of  regulars.  Outlaws  and  smugglers  work  and 
fight  hand  to  hand  with  the  respected  worthies  of 
the  neighborhood.  They  watch  their  farms  burn 
from  their  outlook  on  the  hill-tops,  they  suffer  the 
pangs  of  starvation  when  their  supplies  are  Inter- 
cepted by  the  enemy,  they  fight  to  desperation  when 
their  position  is  finally  turned  by  the  treachery  of  a 
crazy  German  they  have  long  harbored — and  whose 
vagaries  give,  by  the  way,  a  most  romantic  color  to 
the  narrative — and  they  are  finally  slain  or  capt- 
ured just  as  Paris  capitulates  and  peace  is  made. 
None  of  the  National  Novels  is  more  graphic  or 
more  significant  historically  than  "  The  Invasion." 


THE  INVASION  OF  FRANCE  IN  1814 

CHAPTER  I 

THE    OLD    SHOEMAKER   AND    HIS    DAUGHTER 

IF  you  would  wish  to  know  the  history  of  the  great 
invasion  of  1814,  such  as  it  was  related  to  me  by 
the  old  hunter  Frantz  du  Hengst,  you  must  trans- 
port yourself  to  the  village  of  Charmes,  in  the 
Vosges.  About  thirty  small  houses,  covered  with 
shingles  and  dark-green  houseleeks,  stand  in  rows 
along  the  banks  of  the  Sarre:  you  can  see  the 
gables  carpeted  with  ivy  and  withered  honey- 
suckles, for  winter  is  approaching;  the  beehives 
closed  with  corks  of  straw,  the  small  gardens,  the 
palings,  the  hedges  which  separate  them  one  from 
the  other. 

To  the  left,  on  a  high  mountain,  arise  the  ruins 
of  the  ancient  chateau  of  Falkenstein,  destroyed 
two  hundred  years  ago  by  the  Swedes.  It  is  now 
only  a  mass  of  stones  and  brambles;  an  old  "  tim- 
ber-way," with  its  worn-out  steps,  ascends  to  it 


2         THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

through  the  pine-trees.  To  the  right,  on  the  side 
of  the  hill,  one  can  perceive  the  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes — a  large  building,  with  granaries,  stables, 
and  sheds,  the  flat  roof  loaded  with  great  stones,  in 
order  to  resist  the  north  wind.  A  few  cows  are 
grazing  in  the  heather,  a  few  goats  on  the  rocks. 

Everything  is  calm  and  silent. 

Some  children,  in  gray  stuff  trousers,  their  heads 
and  feet  bare,  are  warming  themselves  around  their 
little  fires  on  the  outskirts  of  the  woods;  the  spiral 
lines  of  blue  smoke  fade  away  in  the  air,  great  white 
clouds  remain  immovable  above  the  valley;  behind 
these  clouds  arise  the  arid  peaks  of  the  Grosmann 
and  Donon. 

You  must  know  that  the  end  house  of  the  village, 
whose  square  roof  is  pierced  by  two  loophole  win- 
dows, and  whose  low  door  opens  on  the  muddy 
street,  belonged,  in  1813,  to  Jean-Claude  Hullin, 
one  of  the  old  volunteers  of  '92,  but  now  a  shoe- 
maker in  the  village  of  Charmes,  and  who  was  held 
in  much  consideration  by  the  mountaineers.  Hul- 
lin was  a  short  stout  man,  with  gray  eyes,  large  lips, 
a  short  nose,  and  thick  eyebrows.  He  was  of  a 
jovial,  kind  disposition,  and  did  not  know  how  to 
refuse  anything  to  his  daughter  Louise,  a  child 
whom  he  had  picked  up  among  some  miserable 
gypsies — farriers  and  tin-sellers — without  house  or 


THE   OLD    SHOEMAKER  3 

dwelling-place,  who  go  from  village  to  village  mend- 
ing pots  and  pans,  melting  the  ladles,  and  patching 
up  cracked  utensils.  He  considered  her  as  his  own 
daughter,  and  never  seemed  to  remember  she  came 
of  a  strange  race. 

Besides  this  natural  affection,  the  good  old  fel- 
low possessed  others  still:  he  loved  above  all  his 
cousin,  the  old  mistress  of  the  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes,  Catherine  Lefevre,  and  her  son  Gaspard, 
who  had  been  carried  off  that  year  by  the  conscrip- 
tion— a  handsome  young  fellow,  the  "  fiance  "  of 
Louise,  and  whose  return  was  expected  by  all  the 
family  at  the  end  of  the  campaign. 

Hullin  recalled  always  with  enthusiasm  his  cam- 
paigns of  the  Sambre-et-Meuse,  of  Italy  and  of 
Egypt.  He  often  thought  of  them,  and  sometimes 
in  the  evening,  when  the  work  was  over,  he  would 
go  to  the  sawmills  of  Valtin,  that  dark  manufactory 
formed  of  trunks  of  trees  still  bearing  their  bark, 
and  which  you  can  perceive  down  there  at  the  end 
of  the  valley.  He  sat  down  among  the  wood-cut- 
ters and  charcoal-gatherers,  and  sledges,  in  front 
of  the  great  fire ;  and  while  the  heavy  wheel  turned, 
the  dam  thundered  and  the  saws  grinded,  he,  his 
elbow  on  his  knee,  and  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  would 
speak  to  them  of  Hoche,  of  Kleber,  and  finally  of 
General  Bonaparte,  whom  he  had  seen  hundreds 


4         THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

of  times,  and  whose  thin  face,  piercing  eyes,  and 
eagle  profile,  he  would  depict  as  though  he  were 
present. 

Such  was  Jean-Claude  Hullin. 

He  was  one  of  the  old  Gallic  stock,  fond  of  ex- 
traordinary adventures  and  heroic  enterprises,  but 
constant  to  his  work,  out  of  a  sentiment  of  duty, 
from  New  Year's  day  until  Saint  Sylvester's. 

As  for  Louise,  the  child  of  the  tramp,  she  was 
a  slender  creature,  with  long  delicate  hands,  eyes 
of  such  a  soft  deep  blue  that  they  seemed  to  pene- 
trate to  the  depths  of  your  soul,  skin  of  a  snowy 
whiteness,  hair  of  a  pale  straw-color,  like  silk  in 
texture,  and  drooping  shoulders  like  those  of  a  vir- 
gin praying.  Her  ingenuous  smile,  pensive  fore^- 
head — in  fact,  her  whole  appearance — recalled  the 
old  Lied  of  the  Minnesinger  Erhart,  when  he  said: 
"  I  have  seen  a  ray  of  light  pass  by:  my  eyes  are 
still  dazzled  by  it.  Was  it  a  moonbeam  piercing 
the  foliage?  Was  it  a  smile  from  the  dawn  in  the 
forests?  No,  it  was  the  beautiful  Edith,  my  love, 
who  passed  by.  I  have  seen  her,  and  my  eyes  are 
still  dazzled." 

Louise  only  cared  for  fields,  gardens,  and  flow- 
ers. In  spring-time,  the  first  notes  of  the  sky- 
lark made  her  shed  tears  of  delight.  She  went  to 
gee  the  budding  hawthorn  and  blue  cornflowers  be- 


THE   OLD   SHOEMAKER  £ 

hind  the  hedges  on  the  hill-sides;  she  watched  for 
the  return  of  the  swallows,  from  the  little  windows 
of  the  garret.  She  was  always  the  true  child  of  the 
homeless  vagrants,  only  less  wild.  Hullin  forgave 
her  everything;  he  understood  her  nature,  and 
would  sometimes  say,  laughingly: — "  My  poor 
Louise,  with  the  booty  that  thou  bringest  us, — thy 
fine  sheaves  of  flowers  and  golden  wheat-ears — we 
should  die  of  hunger  in  three  days!  " 

Then  she  would  smile  so  tenderly  at  him  and 
embrace  him  so  willingly,  that  he  would  go  on 
with  his  work,  saying: — "  Bah!  why  need  I  grum- 
ble? She  is  right:  she  loves  the  sunshine.  Gas- 
pard  will  work  for  two — he  will  have  the  happiness 
of  four.  I  do  not  pity  him:  on  the  contrary.  One 
can  find  plenty  of  women  who  work,  and  that  does 
not  improve  their  beauty;  but  loving  woman! 
what  luck  to  have  found  one — what  luck!  " 

Thus  reasoned  the  good  old  fellow;  and  days, 
weeks,  and  months  wore  away  in  the  expectation 
of  Gaspard's  return. 

Madame  Lefevre,  an  extremely  energetic  wom- 
an, partook  of  Hullin's  ideas  on  the  subject  of 
Louise. 

"  As  for  me,"  she  said,  "  I  only  want  a  daughter 
who  loves  us;  I  do  not  wish  her  to  have  anything 
to  do  with  my  household  affairs.  So  long  as  she 


6         THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

is  contented!  Thou  wilt  not  bother  me — is  it  not 
so,  Louise? " 

And  then  they  would  embrace  each  other.  But 
Gaspard  did  not  return,  and  for  two  months  they 
had  had  no  tidings  of  him. 

On  that  same  day,  toward  the  middle  of  De- 
cember, 1813,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  Hullin,  bending  over  his  bench,  was 
finishing  a  pair  of  nailed  shoes  for  the  wood-cutter 
Rochart.  Louise  had  just  put  an  earthenware  por- 
ringer down  on  the  little  iron  stove,  which  sang  and 
crackled  in  a  plaintive  manner,  while  the  old  clock 
counted  the  seconds  in  its  monotonous  tic-tac.  Out- 
side, all  along  the  street,  could  be  perceived  small 
pools  of  water,  covered  with  a  coating  of  thin  white 
ice,  announcing  the  approach  of  intense  cold.  At 
times  the  sound  of  great  wooden  shoes,  running 
along  the  hardened  road,  could  be  heard,  and  a  felt 
hat,  a  cape,  or  a  woollen  cap  would  pass  by:  then 
the  noise  would  cease,  and  the  plaintive  hissing  of 
the  green  wood  in  the  flames,  the  humming  of 
Louise's  spinning-wheel,  and  the  boiling  of  the  por- 
ridge-pot again  prevailed.  This  had  gone  on  for 
about  two  hours,  when  Hullin,  glancing  accidentally 
through  the  little  window-panes,  stopped  his  work, 
and  remained  with  his  eyes  wide  open,  staring,  as 
though  absorbed  by  some  unusual  spectacle. 


THE    OLD    SHOEMAKER  7 

In  fact,  at  the  corner  of  the  street,  in  front  of 
the  "  Trois  Pigeons,"  there  advanced,  in  the  midst 
of  a  crowd  of  whistling,  jumping,  and  shouting 
boys,  who  called  out  "  The  King  of  Diamonds! 
The  King  of  Diamonds !  " — There  advanced,  I  say, 
one  of  the  strangest  personages  imaginable.  Pict- 
ure to  yourself  a  red-headed,  red-bearded  man,  with 
a  grave  face,  gloomy  expression,  straight  nose,  the 
eyebrows  meeting  on  the  forehead,  a  circle  of  tin  on 
the  head,  a  gray  dogskin  floating  over  the  back,  its 
forepaws  tied  around  the  neck;  the  chest  covered 
with  little  copper  crosses,  the  legs  clothed  with  a 
sort  of  gray  cloth  trousers  fastened  above  the  ankle, 
and  the  feet  bare.  A  great  raven,  with  black  wings 
glossed  over  with  white,  was  perched  on  his 
shoulder.  From  his  imposing  gait  one  would  have 
taken  him  for  one  of  the  ancient  Merovingian  kings, 
such  as  are  represented  by  the  images  of  Montbe- 
liard;  he  held  in  the  left  hand  a  short  thick  stick 
in  the  shape  of  a  sceptre,  and  with  the  right  he 
made  ostentatious  gestures,  raising  his  finger  toward 
heaven,  and  apostrophizing  his  retinue. 

All  the  doors  opened  on  his  passage;  behind 
every  pane  appeared  inquisitive  faces.  Some  few 
old  women  on  the  outer  stairs  of  their  houses,  called 
out  to  the  madman,  who  would  not  deign  to  turn 
his  head;  others  went  down  into  the  streets  and 


8         THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

tried  to  prevent  him  passing;  but  lie,  lifting  his 
head  and  raising  his  eyebrows,  with  one  word  and 
a  sign,  forced  them  to  make  way. 

"  Hullo!  "  said  Hullin,  "  here  is  Yegof.  I  did 
not  expect  to  have  seen  him  again  this  winter.  It 
is  not  one  of  his  customs.  What  on  earth  can  bring 
him  back  in  such  weather?  " 

And  Louise,  laying  down  her  distaff,  hurried 
away  to  contemplate  "  The  King  of  Diamonds."  It 
was  a  great  event,  the  arrival  of  Yegof  the  mad- 
man at  the  commencement  of  winter:  some  re- 
joiced over  it,  hoping  to  keep  him  and  make  him  re- 
late his  glory  and  fortunes  in  the  inns;  others,  and 
especially  the  women,  were  filled  with  a  sort  of 
vague  uneasiness,  for  madmen,  as  all  know,  have 
ideas  from  another  world :  they  know  the  past  and 
the  future — they  are  inspired  by  God:  the  only 
thing  is  to  know  how  to  understand  them — their 
words  bearing  always  two  meanings:  one  for  the 
ordinary  run  of  people,  the  other  for  more  refined 
and  delicate  souls,  and  the  wise.  This  madman  be- 
sides, more  than  another,  had  truly  some  sublime 
and  extraordinary  thoughts.  None  knew  from 
whence  he  came,  nor  where  he  went,  nor  what  he 
wanted;  for  Yegof  wandered  about  the  country 
like  some  troubled  spirit.  He  spoke  of  extinct  races, 
and  pretended  that  he  was  Emperor  of  Australasia, 


THE    OLD    SHOEMAKER  9 

of  Polynesia,  and  of  other  lands  besides.  Great 
books  could  have  been  written  on  his  palaces,  castles, 
and  strongholds — of  which  he  knew  the  number, 
the  situation,  the  architecture — and  whose  beauty, 
riches,  and  grandeur,  he  would  celebrate  in  a  sim- 
ple and  modest  manner.  He  spoke  of  his  stables, 
of  his  hunts,  of  his  crown-officers,  ministers,  counsel- 
lors, of  the  heads  of  his  provinces;  he  never  made 
any  mistakes  as  to  their  names  or  different  merits; 
but  he  bitterly  bewailed  having  been  dethroned  by 
the  accursed  race:  and  the  old  midwife,  Sapience 
Coquelin,  every  time  that  she  heard  him  groan 
over  this  subject,  would  cry  bitterly,  and  others  also 
did  the  same.  Then  he  would  raise  his  arms  to 
heaven  and  cry  out, — "  O  women,  women!  remem- 
ber, remember!  The  hour  approaches — the  spirits 
of  darkness  flee !  the  old  race — the  masters  of  your 
masters — advance  like  the  waves  of  the  sea!  " 

And  every  spring  he  was  in  the  habit  of  making 
a  survey  of  all  the  old  owls'  nests,  the  ancient 
castles,  and  all  the  ruins  which  crown  the  Vosges 
in  the  depths  of  their  forests,  at  Nideck,  Geroldseck, 
Lutzelbourg,  and  Turkestein,  saying  that  he  was 
going  to  visit  his  territories,  talking  of  re-establish- 
ing the  past  splendor  of  his  states,  and  of  putting  all 
mutinous  people  into  slavery,  with  the  aid  of  his 
cousin  the  "  Grand  Golo." 


io       THE    INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

Jean-Claude  Hullin  made  light  of  these  things, 
from  not  having  a  soul  elevated  enough  to  enter 
into  the  invisible  spheres;  but  Louise  was  much 
troubled  by  them — above  all,  when  the  raven 
napped  its  wings  and  gave  its  hoarse  cry. 

Yegof,  then,  descended  the  street,  without  stop- 
ping anywhere;  and  Louise,  all  excitement,  seeing 
that  he  looked  toward  their  little  house,  said  aloud, 
— "  Papa  Jean-Claude,  I  believe  he  is  coming  our 
way." 

"  It  is  quite  possible,"  replied  Hullin.  "  The 
poor  devil  must  be  in  need  of  a  pair  of  good  lined 
shoes  for  the  great  cold,  and  if  he  were  to  ask  me, 
.1  should  hardly  be  able  to  refuse  them  to  him." 

"  Oh,  how  kind  you  are!  "  said  the  young  girl, 
embracing  him  affectionately. 

"  Yes,  yes!  thou  art  flattering  me,"  said  he, 
laughing,  "  because  I  do  wha.t  thou  wishest.  Who 
will  pay  me  for  my  wood  and  work?  It  will  not 
be  Yegof! " 

Louise  kissed  him  again,  and  Hullin,  looking 
lovingly  at  her,  murmured, — "  This  payment  is 
worth  the  other." 

Yegof  was  then  about  fifteen  yards  from  their 
door:  the  tumult  still  kept  increasing;  the  boys 
hung  on  to  the  tatters  of  his  coat,  crying  out,  "  Dia- 
mond! Club!  Spade!"  Suddenly  he  turned, 


THE    OLD    SHOEMAKER  n 

raised  his  sceptre,  and  called  out  in  a  dignified 
though  furious  manner, — "  Go  back,  accursed  race! 
Go  back,  deafen  me  no  longer,  or  I  will  loose  my 
bloodhounds  against  you!  " 

This  menace  only  made  the  shouts  of  laughter 
and  hisses  redouble;  but  as  at  that  moment  Hullin 
appeared  on  the  threshold  with  a  long  strap  in  his 
hand,  and  distinguishing  five  or  six  of  the  most  ob- 
stinate among  them,  he  warned  them  that  that  even- 
ing he  would  go  and  pull  their  ears  during  their 
supper — a  feat  which  he  had  already  performed 
several  times  with  the  consent  of  the  parents,  the 
whole  band  dispersed  in  great  consternation.  Then, 
going  toward  the  madman, — "  Enter,  Yegof," 
said  the  shoemaker,  "  come  and  warm  thyself  by  the 
fire." 

"  I  do  not  call  myself  Yegof,"  replied  the  un- 
happy man,  looking  offended.  "  I  call  myself  Luit- 
prandt,  King  of  Australasia  and  Polynesia." 

"Yes,  yes,  I  know,"  said  Jean-Claude— "  I 
know!  Thou  hast  already  told  me  all  that.  But 
what  does  it  matter  that  thou  callest  thyself  Yegof, 
or  Luitprandt?  come  in  all  the  same.  It  is  cold; 
try  to  warm  thyself." 

"  I  come  in,"  replied  the  madman ;  "  but  it  is 
for  a  much  more  serious  affair:  it  is  for  a  state  af- 
fair— to  form  an  indissoluble  alliance  between  the 
Germans  and  the  Triboques." 


12       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Well,  we  will  talk  of  that." 

Yegof,  stooping  under  the  door,  entered  as 
though  in  a  reverie,  and  saluted  Louise  by  bowing 
and  lowering  his  sceptre;  but  the  raven  would  not 
come  in.  Opening  his  great  wings,  he  made  a  cir- 
cuit around  the  house,  and  came  and  fastened  him- 
self onto  the  window-panes  to  break  them. 

"Hans,"  shouted  the  madman,  "take  care!  I 
am  coming!  " 

But  the  bird  did  not  detach  its  sharp  claws  from 
the  casement,  and  never  ceased  fluttering  its  great 
wings  so  long  as  its  master  remained  in  the  cottage. 
Louise  did  not  take  her  eyes  off  it:  she  was  afraid. 
•As  for  Yegof,  he  sat  down  in  the  old  leathern  arm- 
chair behind  the  stove,  his  legs  stretched  out  as 
though  on  a  throne;  and  gazing  around  him  in  a 
triumphant  manner,  he  cried  out, — "  I  come  direct 
from  Jerome,  to  conclude  an  alliance  with  thee, 
Hullin.  Thou  art  not  ignorant  that  I  have  deigned 
to  cast  my  eyes  on  thy  daughter,  and  I  come  to 
ask  her  of  thee  in  marriage." 

At  this  proposition  Louise  blushed  to  the  roots 
of  her  hair,  and  Hullin  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  Thou  laughest!  "  cried  the  madman,  in  a  hol- 
low voice.  "Well!  thou  art  wrong  to  laugh.  This 
alliance  may  alone  save  thee  from  the  impending 
ruin  of  thyself,  thy  house,  and  all  thy  belongings. 


THE   OLD    SHOEMAKER  13 

At  this  moment  my  armies  are  advancing.  They 
are  countless — they  cover  the  earth.  What  can 
you  do  against  me?  You  will  be  vanquished,  an- 
nihilated, or  reduced  to  slavery,  as  you  have  already 
been  for  centuries:  for  I,  Luitprandt,  King  of  Aus- 
tralasia and  of  Polynesia — I  have  decided  that 
everything  shall  be  as  it  once  was.  Remember!  " — 
here  the  madman  raised  his  finger  solemnly — "  re- 
member what  has  passed!  You  have  been  beaten! 
And  we,  the  old  northern  races — we  have  put  our 
yokes  upon  you.  We  have  burdened  you  with  the 
largest  stones  for  building  our  strong  castles  and 
our  subterraneous  prisons;  we  have  harnessed  you 
to  our  ploughs;  you  have  been  before  us  as  the 
straw  before  the  hurricane.  Remember,  remem- 
ber, Triboque,  and  tremble !  " 

"  I  remember  very  well,"  said  Hullin,  still  laugh- 
ing; "  but  we  had  our  revenge.  Thou  knowest?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  interrupted  Yegof,  frowning;  "  but 
that  time  has  gone  by.  My  warriors  are  more 
numerous  than  the  leaves  in  the  forests;  and  your 
blood  flows  like  the  water  of  the  brooks.  Thou,  I 
know  thee — I  knew  thee  a  thousand  years  ago!  " 

"Bah!  "said  Hullin. 

"  Yes,  it  was  this  hand — dost  thou  hear? — this 
hand  that  has  vanquished  thee,  when,  for  the  first 
time,  we  entered  your  forests.  It  has  made  thy 


I4       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

head  bow  beneath  the  yoke — it  will  make  it  bend 
again!  Because  you  are  brave,  you  believe  your- 
selves masters  of  this  country  and  of  all  France  for- 
ever. Well,  you  are  wrong!  We  have  spoiled 
you,  and  we  will  spoil  you  again.  We  will  restore 
Alsace  and  Lorraine  to  Germany,  Brittany  and 
Normandy  to  the  men  from  the  North,  with  Flan- 
ders and  the  South  to  Spain.  We  will  make  France 
into  a  little  kingdom  around  Paris — a  very  little 
kingdom — with  a  descendant  of  the  ancient  race 
at  your  head.  And  you  will  no  longer  agitate  your- 
selves— you  will  be  very  tranquil.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  " 
Yegof  began  to  laugh. 

Hullin,  who  had  no  knowledge  of  history,  was 
astonished  that  he  should  know  so  many  names. 

"  Bah!  stop  that,  Yegof,"  said  he;  "  and  come, 
take  a  little  soup  to  warm  thy  inside." 

"  I  do  not  ask  thee  for  soup ;  I  ask  thee  for  this 
girl  in  marriage — the  most  beautiful  on  my  estates. 
Give  her  to  me  willingly,  and  I  raise  thee  to  the 
steps  of  my  throne:  else  my  armies  shall  take  her 
by  force,  and  thou  shalt  not  have  the  merit  of  giv- 
ing her  to  me." 

While  thus  speaking,  the  unhappy  creature 
regarded  Louise  with  an  air  of  profound  admi- 
ration. 

"How  beautiful  she  is!     I  destine  her  to  the 


THE   OLD    SHOEMAKER  15 

greatest  honors.  Rejoice,  young  girl,  rejoice! 
Thou  shalt  be  queen  of  Australasia." 

"  Listen,  Yegof,"  said  Hullin.  "  I  am  very  much 
flattered  by  thy  demand:  it  shows  that  thou  canst 
appreciate  beauty.  It  is  well.  But  my  daughter 
is  already  affianced  to  Gaspard  Lefevre." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  madman,  greatly  irritated — 
"  I  will  not  hear  of  such  a  thing!  "  Then  rising  up, 
— "  Hullin,"  said  he,  in  solemn  tones,  "  it  is  my 
first  demand.  I  will  renew  it  yet  twice  again — dost 
thou  hear — twice !  And  if  thou  wilt  persist  in  thy 
obstinacy — misfortune,  misfortune  on  thee  and  thy 
race!" 

"  What !  thou  wilt  not  take  any  soup  ?  " 

"  No,  no !  I  will  accept  nothing  from  thee  so 
long  as  thou  hast  not  consented.  Nothing,  noth- 
ing! "  And  then  marching  toward  the  door,  much 
to  the  satisfaction  of  Louise,  who  was  intent  on  the 
raven,  fluttering  its  wings  against  the  window- 
panes,  he  said,  raising  his  sceptre, — "  Twice 
again !  "  and  departed. 

Hullin  went  off  into  a  shout  of  laughter.  "  Poor 
devil!  "  he  exclaimed.  "In  spite  of  himself,  his 
nose  turned  toward  the  porringer.  He  has  nothing 
in  his  inside — his  teeth  chatter  with  hunger.  Well ! 
his  madness  is  stronger  than  either  cold  or  hunger." 

"  Oh,  how  he  frightened  me!  "  said  Louise. 


16       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Come,  come,  my  child,  calm  thyself.  He  is 
gone.  He  thinks  thou  art  pretty,  fool  though  he 
is;  do  not  let  that  terrify  thee." 

But  although  the  madman  had  left,  Louise  still 
trembled,  and  felt  herself  blushing  when  she 
thought  of  how  he  had  looked  at  her. 

Yegof  had  taken  the  road  to  Yaltin.  He  could 
still  be  seen,  his  raven  on  his  shoulder,  walking 
slowly  along  and  making  curious  gestures,  al- 
though no  one  was  near  him.  The  night  was  draw- 
ing on,  and  soon  the  tall  figure  of  "  The  King  of 
Diamonds  "  disappeared  in  the  gray  shadows  of  the 
winter  twilight. 


CHAPTER  H 

THE  SHOEMAKER'S  VISITOR 

IN  the  evening  of  that  same  day,  after  their 
supper,  Louise,  having  taken  her  spinning-wheel, 
was  gone  for  a  little  diversion  to  the  Mother  Ro- 
chart's  where  all  the  good  women  and  young  girls 
of  the  neighborhood  used  to  assemble  till  near  mid- 
night. They  spent  their  time  in  relating  old  le- 
gends, talking  of  the  rain,  of  the  weather,  of  mar- 
riages, baptisms,  of  the  departure  or  return  of  the 
conscripts,  and  what  not,  that  enabled  them  to  pass 
the  hours  agreeably. 

Hullin  remained  alone  before  his  little  copper 
lamp,  nailing  the  shoes  of  the  old  wood-cutter.  He 
no  longer  thought  of  the  madman  Yegof.  His 
hammer  rose  and  fell,  driving  the  great  nails  into 
the  thick  wooden  shoes  quite  mechanically,  by  force 
of  habit.  In  the  meantime  thousands  of  ideas  came 
into  his  head;  he  was  thoughtful  without  knowing 
why.  Now  it  was  Gaspard,  who  gave  no  signs  of 
being  alive;  then  it  was  the  campaign,  which  was 

2  I? 


i8       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

being  indefinitely  prolonged.  The  lamp  threw  its 
yellowish  light  around  the  smoky  little  room.  Out- 
side, not  a  sound.  The  fire  began  to  die  away. 
Jean-Claude  rose  to  put  on  a  fagot,  then  sat  down 
again,  muttering, — "Bah!  this  cannot  last;  we 
shall  receive  a  letter  one  of  these  days." 

The  old  clock  began  to  strike  nine;  and  as  Hul- 
lin  was  recommencing  his  work,  the  door  opened  and 
Catherine  Lefevre,  the  mistress  of  Bois-de-Chenes, 
appeared  on  the  threshold,  to  the  great  stupefaction 
of  the  shoemaker,  for  it  was  not  her  custom  to  arrive 
at  such  a  time. 

Catherine  Lefevre  might  have  been  sixty  years 
old,  but  she  was  as  upright  and  strong  as  at  thirty. 
Her  clear  gray  eyes  and  beaked  nose  resembled  those 
of  a  bird  of  prey ;  the  corners  of  her  mouth  turned 
down,  and  made  her  look  somewhat  gloomy  and 
sad;  two  or  three  locks  of  gray  hair  fell  over  her 
forehead ;  a  brown  striped  hood  reached  from  her 
head,  over  her  shoulders  and  down  to  her  elbows. 
Her  physiognomy  announced  a  steadfast,  tenacious 
character,  with  something  indescribably  grand  and 
mournful  about  it,  which  inspired  both  respect 
and  fear. 

"Can  it  be  you,  Catherine?"  said  Hullin,  in 
astonishment. 

"  Yes,  it  is  I,"  replied  the  old  dame,  calmly. 


THE   SHOEMAKER'S   VISITOR  19 

"  I  am  come  to  talk  with  you,  Jean-Claude.  .  .  . 
Louise  is  away?" 

"  She  has  gone  for  a  little  amusement  to  Mad- 
eleine Rochart's." 

"  It  is  well." 

Then  Catherine  pushed  back  her  hood  from  her 
head,  and  sat  down  at  the  end  of  the  bench.  Hullin 
looked  fixedly  at  her:  he  perceived  something  ex- 
traordinary and  mysterious  about  her  which  fas- 
cinated him. 

"What  has  happened,  then?"  said  he,  putting 
down  his  hammer. 

Instead  of  answering  this  question,  she  turned 
toward  the  door,  and  seemed  to  be  listening;  then 
hearing  no  sound,  her  serious  expression  came 
back. 

"  Yegof  the  madman  spent  last  night  at  the 
farm,"  said  she. 

"  He  came  to  see  me  this  afternoon,"  rejoined 
Hullin,  without  attaching  any  importance  to  this 
fact,  which  was  totally  indifferent  to  him. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  old  dame,  in  a  low  voice,  "  he 
spent  the  night  with  us;  and  yesterday  evening, 
about  this  time,  in  the  kitchen,  before  us  all,  this 
madman  related  terrible  things!  " 

Then  she  relapsed  into  silence,  and  the  corners 
of  her  mouth  seemed  to  turn  down  more  than  ever. 


20       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Terrible  things!  "  murmured  the  shoemaker, 
excessively  astonished :  for  he  had  never  seen  Cath- 
erine Lefevre  in  such  a  condition  before.  "  But 
what  then?  say,  what?  " 

"Dreams  I  have  had!" 

"  Dreams?  You  certainly  want  to  make  fun  of 
me!  " 

«  NO!  " 

Then,  after  a  short  pause,  she  slowly  continued 
— "  Yesterday  evening,  all  our  people  were  assem- 
bled in  the  kitchen  around  the  large  fireplace  after 
supper;  the  table  still  remained  covered  with  empty 
dishes,  plates,  and  spoons.  Yegof  had  partaken  of 
it  with  us,  and  had  amused  us  with  the  history  of 
his  treasures,  castles,  and  provinces.  It  might  have 
been  toward  nine  o'clock:  the  madman  was  sitting 
at  one  end  of  the  blazing  fire;  old  Duchene,  my 
ploughboy,  was  mending  Bruno's  saddle;  the 
herdsman,  Robin,  was  plaiting  a  basket;  Annette 
arranged  her  pans  on  the  shelves:  and  I  had 
brought  my  wheel  nearer  the  fire  to  finish  spinning 
a  distaff-ful  before  going  to  bed.  Out  of  doors,  the 
dogs  were  barking  at  the  moon;  the  cold  was  very 
great.  We  were  all  there,  talking  of  the  coming 
winter.  Duchene  said  it  would  be  very  severe,  for 
he  had  seen  several  flocks  of  wild-geese.  And  Ye- 
gof's  raven,  on  the  edge  of  the  mantel-piece,  its  head 


THE   SHOEMAKER'S   VISITOR  2I 

buried  in  its  ruffled  feathers,  seemed  to  sleep;  but 
now  and  then  it  would  elongate  its  neck  and  watch 
us,  listen  a  moment  and  then  cover  itself  again  in 
its  plumes." 

She  remained  silent  a  moment,  as  though  to  col- 
lect her  ideas;  her  eyelids  drooped,  her  great 
beaked  nose  seemed  to  bend  down  on  to  her  lips, 
and  a  strange  pallor  came  over  her  face. 

"  What  the  devil  is  coming  next? "  thought 
Hullin. 

The  old  woman  continued:  "  Yegof  near  the 
fire,  with  his  tin  crown,  and  his  short  stick  on  his 
knees,  was  dreaming  of  something.  He  looked  at 
the  great  black  chimney,  the  stone  mantel-piece, 
which  is  carved  with  different  figures  and  trees,  and 
the  smoke  which  went  up  in  great  clouds  around 
the  sides  of  bacon:  when  suddenly  he  struck  with 
the  end  of  his  stick  on  to  the  tiles  and  called  out,  as 
though  in  a  dream — '•  Yes,  yes,  I  have  seen  that 
long  ago — long  ago! '  And  as  we  all  looked  at  him 
speechless — '  In  those  times,'  he  went  on  to  say, 
'  the  pine-forests  were  forests  of  oak.  The  Nideck, 
the  Dagsberg,  Falkenstein,  Geroldseck,  all  those 
old  ruined  castles  did  not  exist.  In  those  times  the 
bison  could  be  hunted  in  the  depths  of  the  woods, 
the  salmon  caught  in  the  Sarre,  and  you,  the  fair 
men,  were  buried  in  snow  six  months  of  the  year. 


22       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

You  lived  on  milk  and  cheese,  for  you  had  many 
flocks  and  herds  on  the  Hengst,  the  Schneeberg, 
the  Grosmann,  the  Donon.  In  the  summer  you 
hunted:  you  came  down  to  the  Khine,  the  Moselle, 
the  Meuse.  I  can  recall  it  all ! ' 

"  And  wonderful  to  relate,  Jean-Claude,  as  the 
madman  spoke,  I  seemed  to  see  also  these  countries 
of  years  gone  by,  and  to  remember  them  as  I  should 
a  dream.  I  had  let  fall  my  distaff,  and  Duchene, 
Robin,  Jeanne — in  fact,  everybody — listened. 
1  Yes,  it  was  long  ago,'  he  continued.  '  In  those 
days  you  were  already  building  these  great  chim- 
neys; and  all  around,  at  a  distance  of  two  or  three 
hundred  yards,  you  planted  palisades  fifteen  feet 
high,  and  with  the  points  hardened  by  the  fire. 
And  inside  them  you  kept  your  big  dogs  with  their 
hanging  cheeks,  who  barked  day  and  night.' 

"  We  could  see  what  he  said,  Jean-Claude;  we 
could  see  it  all.  But  he  paid  no  heed  to  us:  he  re- 
garded the  figures  on  the  chimney-piece  with  his 
mouth  open;  but,  in  an  instant,  having  stooped  his 
head  and  seeing  how  attentive  we  all  were,  he 
laughed  with  a  wild,  mad  laughter,  and  cried  out: 
— '  In  those  days  you  believed  yourselves  the  lords 
of  the  country,  O  fair  men,  with  your  blue  eyes 
and  white  skins,  fed  on  milk  and  cheese,  and  only 
tasting  blood  in  the  autumn,  at  the  great  hunts: 


THE   SHOEMAKER'S   VISITOR 


23 


you  believed  yourselves  the  masters  of  the  plains 
and  mountains,  when  we,  the  red  men,  with  the 
green  eyes,  out  of  the  sea — we  who  drank  always 
blood  and  only  liked  battles — one  fine  morning  we 
arrived  with  our  axes  and  spears,  and  ascended  the 
Sarre  under  the  shadows  of  the  old  oaks.  Ah!  it 
was  a  cruel  war,  which  lasted  weeks  and  months. 
And  the  old  woman — there — '  said  he,  pointing  at 
me,  with  a  singular  smile,  '  the  Margareth  of  the 
clan  of  Kilberix,  that  old  woman  with  her  beaked 
nose,  in  her  palisades,  in  the  midst  of  her  dogs  and 
warriors — she  fought  like  a  wolf.  But  when  five 
moons  had  passed,  hunger  arrived.  The  doors  of 
the  palisades  opened  for  flight,  and  we,  in  ambush 
in  the  stream — we  massacred  all! — all — except  the 
children  and  the  beautiful  young  girls.  The  old 
woman,  alone,  defended  herself  to  the  last  with  her 
teeth  and  nails;  and  I,  Luitprandt,  clove  her  head 
in  two;  and  I  took  her  father,  the  aged  man  and 
blind,  to  chain  him  at  the  door  of  my  castle  like  a 
dog! ' 

"  Then,  Hullin,"  continued  the  old  woman, 
"  the  madman  began  to  chant  a  long  song — the 
lamentation  of  the  old  man  chained  to  his  doorway. 
Wait  till  I  can  recall  it,  Jean-Claude.  It  was 
mournful — mournful  as  a  Miserere.  No,  I  cannot 
remember  it;  but  I  seem  still  to  hear  it.  It  made 


24       THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

our  blood  curdle;  and,  as  he  laughed  without  ceas- 
ing, at  last  all  our  servants  gave  a  terrible  cry,  rage 
seized  them.  Duchene  sprang  on  the  madman  to 
strangle  him;  but  he,  with  more  strength  than  one 
could  suppose  he  possessed,  threw  him  back,  and 
raising  his  stick  furiously,  said  to  us: — 'On  your 
knees,  slaves — on  your  knees!  My  armies  are  ad- 
vancing! Do  you  hear?  The  earth  trembles  with 
them.  These  castles,  the  Nideck,  the  Haut-Barr, 
the  Dagsberg,  the  Turkestein,  you  shall  build  them 
up  again!  On  your  knees! ' 

"  I  never  saw  a  more  fearful  face  than  Yegof 's 
at  that  moment;  but,  seeing  for  the  second  time 
my  servants  rising  against  him,  I  was  obliged  to 
defend  him  myself.  '  It  is  a  madman,'  I  said  to 
them.  '  Are  you  not  ashamed  to  believe  in  the 
words  of  a  madman?'  They  stopped  on  my  ac- 
count; but  I  could  not  close  my  eyes  that  night. 
The  words  of  that  wretched  man  kept  recurring  to 
me.  I  seemed  to  hear  the  chant  of  the  old  prison- 
er, the  barking  of  our  dogs,  and  the  sounds  of  bat- 
tle. For  years  I  have  never  felt  so  uneasy.  That 
is  why  I  came  to  see  you,  Jean-Claude.  What  do 
you  think  of  it?" 

"  I?  "  exclaimed  the  shoemaker,  in  whose  ruddy 
face  both  irony  and  pity  were  visible.  "  If  I  did 
not  know  you  so  well,  Catherine,  I  should  say  you 


THE   SHOEMAKER'S  VISITOR  25 

were  deranged: — you,  Duchene,  Robin,  and  the 
rest  of  you.  All  that  has  about  the  same  effect  on 
me  as  one  of  Genevieve  de  Brabant's  tales — made 
up  to  terrify  little  children,  and  which  shows  us 
how  foolish  our  ancestors  were." 

"  You  do  not  comprehend  these  things,"  said 
she,  in  a  calm,  grave  voice;  "  you  have  never  had 
any  of  those  ideas." 

"  Then  you  believe  all  that  Yegof  has  said  to 
you?" 

"  Yes,  I  believe  it." 

"  What,  you,  Catherine? — you,  a  sensible  wom- 
an? If  it  were  the  mother  of  Rochart  I  should  say 
nothing;  but  you!  " 

He  rose  as  though  annoyed,  took  off  his  apron, 
shrugged  his  shoulders,  then  sat  down  again  quick- 
ly, and  called  out: — "  This  madman,  do  you  know 
what  he  is?  I  will  tell  you.  He  is  most  assuredly 
one  of  those  German  school-masters  who  stuff  their 
brains  with  '  Old  Mother  Goose '  tales,  and  then 
gravely  relate  them  to  others.  By  dint  of  studying, 
dreaming,  ruminating,  their  wits  get  out  of  order; 
they  have  visions,  many-sided  ideas,  and  take  their 
dreams  for  realities.  I  have  always  looked  upon 
Yegof  as  one  of  those  poor  wretches.  He  knows 
lots  of  names,  he  speaks  of  Brittany  and  Austral- 
asia, of  Polynesia  and  the  Nideck,  and  then  of 


26       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Geroldseck,  of  the  Turkestein,  of  the  Khine — in 
fact  of  everything  at  hazard;  and  it  ends  by  having 
the  appearance  of  something  when  it  is  nothing.  In 
ordinary  times  you  would  think  as  I  do,  Catherine; 
but  you  are  troubled  at  not  receiving  any  tidings 
from  Gaspard.  These  rumors  of  war  and  of  inva- 
sion that  are  going  about  torment  and  unsettle  you. 
You  cannot  sleep;  and  what  a  poor  madman  says, 
you  regard  as  Bible  truths." 

"  No,  Hullin;  it  is  not  that.  If  you  yourself 
had  heard  Yegof " 

"  Get  along!  "  exclaimed  the  good  old  fellow. 
"  If  I  had,  I  should  have  laughed  at  him  as  I  did 
just  now.  Do  you  know  that  he  came  to  ask  Louise 
of  me  in  marriage,  to  make  her  queen  of  Austral- 
asia?" 

Catherine  Lefevre  could  not  restrain  a  smile; 
but,  regaining  almost  at  once  her  serious  expression 
— "  All  your  reasonings,  Jean-Claude,"  said  she, 
"  cannot  convinc.3  me;  but,  I  confess  it,  the  silence 
of  Gasper  frightens  me.  I  know  my  son :  he  would 
certainly  have  written  to  me.  Why  have  his  let- 
ters never  reached  me?  The  war  is  going  on  bad- 
ly, Hullin — we  have  all  the  world  against  us.  They 
don't  want  our  revolution — you  know  it  as  well  as 
I  do.  So  long  as  we  were  masters,  and  won  victory 
after  victory,  they  looked  kindly  on  us;  but  since 


THE   SHOEMAKER'S   VISITOR 


27 


our  Russian  misfortunes,  things  wear  a  bad  as- 
pect." 

"  La,  La,  Catherine,  how  you  get  carried  away. 
You  see  everything  gloomily." 

"  Yes,  I  see  everything  gloomily,  and  I  am 
right.  What  makes  me  so  uneasy  is,  that  we  never 
get  any  news  from  the  outer  world;  we  live  here 
as  in  a  savage  country:  one  knows  of  nothing  that 
goes  on.  The  Austrians  and  the  Cossacks  could 
be  upon  us  at  any  time,  and  we  should  be  taken 
by  surprise." 

Hullin  observed  the  old  dame,  whose  expression 
was  very  animated;  and  even  he  began  to  be  influ- 
enced by  the  same  fears. 

"  Listen,  Catherine,"  said  he,  suddenly.  "  When 
you  speak  in  a  reasonable  manner,  it  is  not  I  who 
would  say  anything  against  it.  All  you  now  tell 
me  is  possible.  I  do  not  believe  in  it;  but  one 
might  as  well  make  sure.  I  had  intended  to  go  to 
Phalsbourg  in  a  week,  to  buy  sheepskins  for  trim- 
ming some  shoes:  I  will  go  to-morrow.  At  Phals- 
bourg, a  garrison  and  post  town,  there  must  be 
some  reliable  news.  Will  you  believe  those  I  shall 
bring  you  on  my  return  from  that  place?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Good;  it  is  then  arranged.  I  shall  leave  to- 
morrow early.  There  are  five  leagues  in  all.  I 


28       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

shall  return  about  six  o'clock.  You  will  see,  Cath- 
erine, that  all  your  dismal  ideas  have  no  sense  in 
them." 

"  I  hope  so,"  she  replied,  rising.  "  I  hope  so. 
You  have  somewhat  reassured  me,  Hullin.  Now 
I  will  go  to  the  farm,  and  may  I  sleep  better  than 
I  did  last  night.  Good-night,  Jean-Claude." 


CHAPTER  in 

AT     PHALSBOUBG 

THE  next  day  at  dawn,  Hullin,  wearing  his  blue 
cloth  Sunday  breeches,  his  large  brown  velvet  jack- 
et and  red  waistcoat  with  brass  buttons,  and  a  broad 
beaver  mountaineer's  hat  turned  up  like  a  cockade 
above  his  ruddy  face — started  on  his  way  to  Phals- 
bourg,  a  stout  stick  in  his  hand. 

Phalsbourg  is  a  small  fortress,  half-way  on  the 
imperial  road  from  Strasbourg  to  Paris;  it  domi- 
nates Saverne,  the  denies  of  Haut-Barr,  Roche- 
Platte,  Bonne-Fontaine,  and  of  the  Grauf  thai.  Its 
bastions,  outposts,  and  demilunes  are  cut  out  in  zig- 
zags on  a  rocky  plain:  from  afar,  the  walls  look 
as  though  they  might  be  cleared  at  a  jump ;  but  on 
coming  closer  one  perceives  the  moat,  a  hundred 
feet  wide,  thirty  deep,  and  the  dark  ramparts  hewn 
in  the  face  of  the  rock.  That  makes  one  stop  sud- 
denly. Besides,  with  the  exception  of  the  church, 
the  town-hall,  the  two  gateways  of  France  and  Ger- 
many, in  shape  of  mitres,  and  the  peaks  of  the  two 


30       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

powder-magazines,  all  the  rest  is  hidden  behind  the 
fortifications.  Such  is  Phalsbourg,  which  is  not 
without  a  certain  imposing  effect,  especially  when 
one  crosses  its  bridges  and  piers,  under  its  thick 
gates,  garnished  with  iron-spiked  portcullis.  In 
the  interior,  the  houses  are  distributed  in  regular 
quarters;  they  are  low,  in  straight  lines,  built  of 
freestone:  everything  bears  a  military  aspect. 

Hullin,  owing  to  his  robust  constitution  and  jo- 
vial disposition,  never  had  any  fears  for  the  future, 
and  considered  all  rumors  of  retreat,  rout,  and  inva- 
sion, which  circulated  in  the  country,  as  so  many 
lies  propagated  by  dishonest  individuals;  so  that 
one  may  judge  of  his  stupefaction  when,  on  leaving 
the  mountains  and  from  the  outskirts  of  the  woods, 
he  saw  the  whole  surroundings  of  the  town  laid  as 
bare  as  a  pontoon:  not  a  garden,  not  an  orchard, 
not  a  promenade,  or  a  tree,  or  even  a  shrub — all 
was  destroyed  within  cannon-range.  A  few  poor 
creatures  were  picking  up  the  last  remnants  of  their 
little  houses,  and  carrying  them  into  the  town. 
Nothing  was  to  be  seen  on  the  horizon  but  the  line 
of  ramparts  standing  out  clearly  above  the  hidden 
roads.  It  had  the  effect  of  a  thunder-bolt  on  Jean- 
Claude. 

For  some  moments  he  could  neither  articulate  a 
word  nor  make  a  step  forward. 


AT   PHALSBOURG  31 

"  Oh,  ho!  "  said  he,  at  last,  "  this  is  bad— this  is 
very  bad.  They  expect  the  enemy." 

Then  his  warlike  instincts  prevailed;  a  dark 
flush  came  over  his  brown  cheeks.  "  It  is  those  ras- 
cally Austrians,  Prussians,  and  Russians,  and  all 
the  other  wretches  picked  up  out  of  the  dregs  of  Eu- 
rope, who  are  the  cause  of  this,"  cried  he,  waving 
his  stick.  "  But  beware !  we  will  make  them  pay 
for  the  damages!  " 

He  was  possessed  with  one  of  those  white  rages 
such  as  honest  people  feel  when  they  are  driven  to 
extremities.  Woe  to  him  who  annoyed  Hullin  just 
then! 

Twenty  minutes  later  he  entered  the  town,  at 
the  rear  of  a  long  file  of  carriages,  each  harnessed 
to  five  or  six  horses,  pulling,  with  much  trouble, 
enormous  trunks  of  trees,  destined  to  construct 
block-houses  on  the  place-d'armes.  Among  the 
conductors,  the  peasants,  and  neighing,  stamping 
horses,  marched  gravely  a  mounted  gendarme 
— Father  Kels — who  did  not  seem  to  hear  any- 
thing, and  said,  in  a  rough  voice,  "  Courage,  cour- 
age, my  friends !  We  will  make  two  more  journeys 
before  evening.  You  will  have  deserved  well  of 
your  country !  " 

Jean-Claude  crossed  the  bridge. 

A  new  spectacle  opened  before  him  in  the  town. 


32       THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

There  reigned  the  ardor  of  defence:  all  the  doors 
were  open;  men,  women,  and  children  came  and 
ran,  helping  to  transport  the  powder  and  projectiles. 
They  stopped  in  groups  of  three,  four,  six,  to  make 
themselves  acquainted  with  the  news. 

"He  neighbor!" 

"What  then?" 

"  A  courier  has  just  arrived  in  great  speed.  He 
entered  by  the  French  gate." 

"  Then  he  has  come  to  announce  the  National 
Guard  from  Nancy." 

"  Or,  perhaps,  a  convoy  from  Metz." 

"  You  are  right.  We  want  sixteen-pounders, 
and  shot  also.  The  stoves  are  to  be  broken  up  to 
make  some." 

A  few  worthy  tradespeople  in  their  shirt-sleeves, 
standing  on  tables  along  the  pavement,  were  busy- 
ing themselves  with  barricading  their  windows  with 
large  pieces  of  wood  and  mattresses;  others  rolled 
up  to  their  doors  tubs  of  water.  This  enthusiasm 
reanimated  Hullin. 

"Excellent!"  said  he;  "everybody  is  making 
holiday  here.  The  allies  will  be  well  received." 

In  front  of  the  College,  the  squeaky  voice  of  the 
Sergeant-de-ville  Harmentier  was  proclaiming: — 

"  Let  it  be  known  that  the  casemates  are  to  be 
opened:  therefore  everybody  may  take  a  mattress 


AT    PHALSBOURG  33 

there,  and  two  blankets  each.  And  the  commissa- 
ries of  this  place  are  going  to  commence  their 
rounds  of  inspection,  to  ascertain  that  each  inhabi- 
tant possesses  food  for  three  months  in  advance, 
which  he  must  certify. — This  day,  20th  December, 
1813. — JEAN  PIERRE  MEUNIER,  Governor." 

All  this  Hullin  saw  and  heard  in  less  than  a 
minute,  for  the  whole  town  was  in  the  greatest  ex- 
citement. Strange,  serious,  and  comic  scenes  suc- 
ceeded each  other  without  interruption. 

Near  the  narrow  street  leading  to  the  Arsenal, 
a  few  National  Guards  were  drawing  a  twenty-four 
pounder.  These  honest  fellows  had  a  very  steep 
ascent  to  climb;  they  could  do  no  more.  "Ho! 
all  together!  Mille  tonnerres!  Once  again! 
Forward!  "  They  all  shouted  at  once,  pushing  the 
wheels,  and  the  great  cannon,  stretching  out  its  long 
neck  over  its  immense  carriage,  above  their  heads, 
rolled  slowly  along,  making  the  pavement  tremble. 

Hullin,  quite  rejoiced,  was  no  longer  the  same 
man.  His  soldier-like  instincts,  the  remembrance 
of  the  bivouac,  of  the  marches,  of  the  firing,  and  of 
the  battles — all  returned.  His  eyes  sparkled,  his 
heart  beat  faster,  and  already  thoughts  of  defence, 
of  entrenchments,  of  death-struggles  came  and  went 
in  his  head. 

"  Faith!  "  said  he,  "  all  goes  well!  I  have  made 
3 


34       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

enough  shoes  in  my  life,  and  since  the  occasion  to 
take  up  the  musket  presents  itself,  well,  so  much 
the  better:  we  will  show  the  Prussians  and  Aus- 
trians  that  we  have  not  forgotten  to  charge  at  the 
double." 

Thus  reasoned  the  good  man,  carried  away  by 
his  warlike  instincts;  but  his  joy  did  not  last  long. 

Before  the  church,  on  the  placc-d'armcs,  were 
standing  fifteen  or  twenty  carts,  full  of  wounded, 
arrived  from  Leipzig  and  Hanau.  These  unhappy 
creatures,  pale,  ghastly,  heavy-eyed,  some  whose 
limbs  were  already  amputated,  others  with  their 
wounds  still  untouched,  tranquilly  awaited  death. 
Near  them,  a  few  worn-out  jades  were  eating  their 
meagre  allowance,  while  the  conductors,  poor 
wretches,  who  had  been  brought  into  requisition 
in  Alsace,  wrapped  in  their  old  mantles,  slept  not- 
withstanding the  cold — their  great  hats  turned 
down  over  their  faces  and  their  arms  folded — on  the 
steps  of  the  church.  One  shuddered  to  see  these 
sad  groups  of  men,  with  their  gray  hoods,  heaped 
up  on  the  bloody  straw — one  carrying  his  broken 
arm  on  his  knees;  another  with  his  head  bandaged 
in  an  old  handkerchief;  a  third,  already  dead,  be- 
ing used  as  a  seat  for  the  living,  his  black  hands 
hanging  down  the  ladder.  Hullin,  in  front  of  this 
mournful  spectacle,  stopped  rooted  to  the  ground. 


AT   PHALSBOURG  35 

He  could  not  lift  his  eyes  from  it.  Great  human 
suffering  has  this  strange  power  of  fascination  over 
us:  we  look  to  see  men  perish,  how  they  regard 
death :  the  best  among  us  are  not  exempt  from  this 
frightful  curiosity.  It  seems  as  though  eternity  is 
going  to  deliver  up  its  secret! 

There,  then,  near  the  shafts  of  the  first  cart,  to 
the  right  of  the  file,  were  crouched  two  carbineers 
in  little  sky-blue  vests,  veritable  giants,  whose  pow- 
erful natures  gave  way  under  the  clutch  of  pain: 
like  two  caryatides  crushed  by  the  weight  of  some 
heavy  mass.  One,  with  great  red  mustaches  and 
ashy  cheeks,  looked  at  you  out  of  his  sunken  eyes, 
as  though  from  the  depths  of  some  fearful  night- 
mare ;  the  other,  bent  double,  with  blue  hands,  and 
shoulder  torn  by  shot,  sank  more  and  more;  then 
would  raise  himself  with  a  jerk,  talking  softly  as 
though  dreaming.  Behind  lay  stretched,  two  and 
two,  some  infantry  soldiers,  the  greater  number 
struck  by  ball,  with  a  leg  or  an  arm  broken.  They 
seemed  to  support  their  fate  with  more  firmness 
than  the  giants.  These  poor  creatures  said  nothing: 
a  few  only,  the  youngest,  furiously  demanded  water 
and  bread;  and  in  the  next  cart,  a  plaintive  voice 
— the  voice  of  a  conscript — called,  "My  mother! 
my  mother!  "  while  the  older  men  smiled  gloomily, 
as  though  to  say:  "Yes,  yes,  she  will  come,  thy 


36       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

mother!  "  Perhaps  they  did  not  think  of  anything 
all  the  time. 

Now  and  then  a  shudder  would  pass  along  the 
whole  of  them.  Then  several  wounded  could  be 
seen  half  lifting  themselves,  with  deep  groans,  and 
falling  back  as  if  death  had  gone  its  rounds  at  that 
moment. 

And  again  everything  relapsed  into  silence. 
While  Hullin  was  watching,  and  feeling  sick  to  his 
heart's  core,  a  shopkeeper  in  the  vicinity,  Some  the 
baker,  came  out  of  his  house  carrying  a  large  basin 
of  soup.  Then  you  should  have  seen  all  these  spec- 
tres move,  their  eyes  sparkle,  their  nostrils  dilate; 
they  seemed  born  again.  The  unhappy  fellows 
were  dying  of  hunger! 

Good  Father  Some,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  ap- 
proached, saying,  "  I  am  coming,  my  children.  A 
little  patience !  It  is  I,  you  know  me !  " 

But  hardly  was  he  near  the  first  cart,  when  the 
great  carbineer  with  the  ashy  cheeks,  reviving, 
plunged  his  arm  up  to  the  elbow  in  the  boiling 
basin,  seized  the  meat,  and  hid  it  under  his  vest. 
It  was  done  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning.  Sav- 
age yells  arose  on  all  sides:  those  men,  if  they  had 
had  strength  to  move,  would  have  devoured  their 
comrade.  He,  his  arms  pressed  tightly  to  his  chest, 
the  teeth  on  his  prey,  and  glaring  round  him,  ap- 


AT   PHALSBOURG  37 

peared  to  hear  nothing.  At  these  cries  an  old  sol- 
dier, a  sergeant,  rushed  out  of  the  nearest  inn.  He 
was  an  old  hand ;  he  understood  at  once  what  it  was 
about,  and,  without  useless  reflections,  he  tore  away 
the  meat  from  the  wild  beast,  saying  to  him,  "  Thou 
dost  not  deserve  any !  It  must  be  divided  into  parts. 
We  will  cut  ten  rations!  " 

"  We  are  only  eight!  "  said  one  of  the  wounded, 
very  calm  to  all  appearance,  but  with  eyes  gleam- 
ing out  of  their  bronze  mask. 

"How,  eight?" 

"  You  can  see,  sergeant,  that  those  two  are  dy- 
ing fast:  it  would  be  so  much  food  lost!  " 

The  old  sergeant  looked. 

"  Right,"  said  he;  "  eight  rations!  " 

Hullin  could  bear  it  no  longer.  He  went  over 
to  the  innkeeper  Wittmann's  opposite,  as  white  as 
death  ;  Wittmann  was  also  a  fur  and  leather  mer- 
chant. Seeing  him  enter,  "  He  !  is  it  you,  Master 
Jean-Claude?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  arrive  soon- 
er than  usual  ;  I  did  not  expect  you  till  next  week." 
Then  seeing  how  he  staggered — "  But  say,  you  are 
ill?" 

"  I  have  just  seen  the  wounded." 

"  Ah,  yes  !  the  first  time,  it  shocks  you  ;  but  if 
you  had  seen  fifteen  thousand  pass,  as  we  have,  you 
would  not  think  anything  more  about  it." 


38       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  A  glass  of  wine,  quick?  "  said  Hullin,  who  felt 
badly.  "  Oh,  mankind,  mankind  !  And  to  think 
that  we  are  brothers  !  " 

"  Yes,  brothers  until  it  touches  your  purse,"  re- 
plied Wittmann.  "  Come,  drink  !  that  will  set 
you  right." 

"  And  you  have  seen  fifteen  thousand  go  by? " 
rejoined  the  shoemaker. 

"  At  the  least,  for  two  months,  without  speaking 
of  those  who  have  remained  in  Alsace  and  the  other 
side  of  the  Rhine  ;  for,  you  comprehend,  they  can- 
not find  carts  enough  for  all,  and  then  many  are  not 
worth  the  trouble  of  being  carried  away." 

"  Yes,  I  comprehend  !  But  why  are  they  there, 
those  poor  creatures? "  Why  do  they  not  go  into 
the  hospital?" 

"  The  hospital  !  What  is  one  hospital,  ten  hos- 
pitals, for  fifty  thousand  wounded?  Every  hospi- 
tal, from  Mayence  and  Coblentz  as  far  as  Phals- 
bourg,  is  crowded.  And,  besides,  that  terrible  fe- 
ver, typhus,  you  see,  Hullin,  kills  more  than  the 
bullet.  All  the  villages  of  the  plain  twenty  leagues 
round  are  infected  with  it  ;  they  die  everywhere 
like  flies.  Luckily  the  town  has  been  in  a  state  of 
siege  these  three  days  ;  the  gates  will  be  closed,  and 
no  more  will  enter.  I  have  lost,  for  my  part,  my 
Uncle  Christian  and  my  Aunt  Lisbeth,  as  healthy, 


AT   PHALSBOURG  39 

solid  people  as  you  and  I,  Master  Jean-Claude.  At 
last  the  cold  has  arrived  ;  last  night  there  was  a 
white  frost." 

"  And  the  wounded  remained  on  the  pavements 
all  night?" 

"  No,  they  came  from  Saverne  this  morning  ;  in 
an  hour  or  two,  when  the  horses  are  rested,  they  will 
leave  for  Sarrebourg." 

At  that  moment,  the  old  sergeant,  who  had  re- 
established order  in  the  carts,  came  in  rubbing  his 
hands. 

"He!  he!"  said  he,  "it  freshens,  Papa  Witt- 
mann.  You  did  well  to  light  the  fire  in  the  stove. 
A  little  glass  of  cognac  to  drive  away  the  fog.  Hum ! 
hum  !  " 

His  small  half-closed  eyes,  his  beaked  nose,  the 
cheek-bones  being  separated  from  it  by  two  flour- 
ishing wrinkles,  which  were  lost  to  sight  in  a  long 
reddish  imperial — everything  looked  gay  in  his 
face,  and  told  of  a  jovial,  kind  disposition.  It  was 
a  regular  military  face,  scorched,  burnt  by  the  open 
air,  full  of  frankness,  but  also  of  a  cheery  slyness  ; 
his  great  shako,  his  blue-gray  cloak,  the  shoulder- 
belt,  the  epaulette,  seemed  to  partake  of  his  indi- 
viduality. One  could  not  have  represented  him 
without  them.  He  walked  up  and  down  the  room, 
continuing  to  rub  his  hands,  while  Wittmann 


40       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

poured  him  a  glass  of  brandy.  HuUin,  seated  near 
the  window,  had  at  once  noticed  the  number  of  his 
regiment — 6th  Light  Infantry.  Gaspard,  the  son 
of  Madame  Lefevre,  served  in  this  regiment.  Jean- 
Claude  could  now  obtain  some  tidings  of  the  lover  of 
Louise  ;  but,  as  he  was  going  to  speak,  his  heart 
beat  loud.  If  Gaspard  was  dead  ;  if  he  had  per- 
ished like  so  many  others  ! 

The  worthy  shoemaker  felt  nearly  suffocated  ;  he 
kept  silent.  "  Better  to  know  nothing,"  thought 
he.  However,  a  few  minutes  later,  he  could  do  so 
no  longer.  "  Sergeant,"  said  he,  in  a  hoarse  voice, 
"  you  are  in  the  6th  Light  Infantry?  " 

"  Yes,  my  citizen,"  said  the  other,  turning  round 
in  the  middle  of  the  room. 

"  Do  you  know  one  called  Gaspard  Lefevre?  " 

"  Gaspard  Lefevre,  of  the  2d  division  of  the  1st? 
Parbleu,  if  I  know  him  !  It  is  I  who  taught  him  his 
drill.  A  brave  soldier  !  hardened  against  fatigue. 
If  we  had  a  hundred  thousand  of  that  stamp " 

"Then  he  lives?    he  is  well?" 

"  Yes,  citizen.  Eight  days  ago  I  left  the  regi- 
ment at  Fredericsthal  to  escort  this  convoy  of  wound- 
ed. You  understand,  it  is  hot  there — one  cannot 
answer  for  anything.  From  one  moment  to  the 
other,  each  of  us  may  have  his  business  settled  for 
him.  But  eight  days  ago,  at  Fredericsthal — the 


AT   PHALSBOURG  41 

15th  December — Gaspard  Lefevre  still  answered  to 
the  roll-call." 

Jean-Claude  breathed.  "  But  then,  sergeant, 
have  the  goodness  to  tell  me  why  Gaspard  has  not 
written  to  his  village  for  two  months?  " 

The  old  soldier  smiled,  and  blinked  his  little  eyes. 
"  Ah  !  now,  citizen,  do  you  then  believe  that  one 
has  nothing  else  to  do  on  the  march  but  to  write?  " 

"  Xo.  I  have  served  ;  I  was  in  the  campaigns 
of  Sambre-et-Meuse,  of  Egypt  and  Italy,  but  that 
did  not  prevent  me  from  giving  some  news  of  my- 
self." 

"  One  instant,  comrade,"  interrupted  the  ser- 
geant. "  I  have  passed  through  Egypt  and  Italy 
also  ;  the  campaign  we  are  finishing  is  altogether 
different." 

"  It  has  then  been  very  severe?  " 

"  Severe  !  one  must  have  one's  soul  driven  into 
every  part  of  one's  members,  so  as  not  to  leave  one's 
bones  there.  All  was  against  us  :  sickness,  traitors, 
peasants,  townsfolk,  our  allies — in  fact  all  !  From 
our  company,  which  was  complete  when  we  quitted 
Phalsbourg,  the  21st  of  last  January,  only  thirty- 
four  men  remain.  I  believe  Gaspard  Lefevre  is  the 
only  conscript  left.  Those  poor  conscripts  !  they 
fought  well  ;  but  they  were  not  accustomed  to  en- 
dure hardships  :  they  melted  like  butter  in  ail 


42       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

oven."  So  saying,  the  old  sergeant  approached  the 
counter  and  drank  his  glass  off  at  one  draught.  "  To 
your  health,  my  citizen.  Are  you  perchance  the 
father  of  Gaspard? " 

"  No,  I  am  a  relation." 

"  Well,  you  can  pride  yourselves  on  being  stoutly 
built  in  your  family.  What  a  man  at  twenty  !  He 
has  gone  through  everything — he  has,  while  the 
others  fell  away  in  dozens." 

"  But,"  rejoined  Hullin,  after  an  instant's  si- 
lence, "  I  cannot  see  anything  so  very  different  in 
this  last  campaign  ;  for  we  also  had  sickness  and 
traitors." 

"  Anything  different  !  "  exclaimed  the  sergeant. 
"  Everything  was  different  !  Formerly,  if  you 
have  gone  through  the  war  in  Germany,  you  ought 
to  remember  that,  after  one  or  two  victories,  it  was 
over  :  the  people  received  you  well  ;  one  drank  the 
little  white  wines,  and  ate  sauerkraut  and  ham  with 
the  townsfolk  ;  one  danced  with  the  buxom  wives. 
The  husbands  and  grandpapas  laughed  heartily,  and 
when  the  regiment  left,  everybody  cried.  But  this 
time,  after  Lutzen  and  Bautzen,  instead  of  feeling 
kindly,  the  people  regarded  us  with  diabolical  faces; 
we  could  get  nothing  out  of  them  but  by  force  ;  one 
could  have  fancied  one's  self  in  Spain  or  Vendee. 
I  do  not  know  what  stuff  they  had  in  their  heads 


AT   PHALSBOURG  43 

against  us.  Better  had  we  only  been  French,  had 
we  not  had  Saxons  and  other  allies,  who  only  await- 
ed the  moment  to  spring  at  our  throats  :  we  should 
then  have  pulled  through  all  the  same,  one  against, 
five  !  But  the  allies — don't  talk  to  me  of  the  al- 
lies !  Why,  at  Leipzig,  the  18th  of  October  last, 
in  the  hottest  part  of  the  battle,  our  allies  turned 
against  us  and  shot  at  us  from  behind  ;  those  were 
our  good  friends  the  Saxons.  A  week  later,  our  for- 
mer friends  the  Bavarians  came  and  threw  them- 
selves across  our  retreat  :  we  had  to  pass  over  them 
at  Hanau.  The  day  after,  near  Frankfort,  another 
column  of  good  friends  presented  themselves,  and 
we  had  to  crush  them.  The  more  one  kills,  the 
more  they  come  !  Here  we  are  now  this  side  of  the 
Rhine.  Well,  there  are  decidedly  more  of  these 
good  friends  marching  from  Moscow.  Ah  !  if  we 
could  have  foreseen  it  after  Austerlitz,  Jena,  Fried- 
land,  Wagram  !  " 

Hullin  had  become  very  thoughtful.  "  And  now 
how  do  we  stand,  sergeant?  " 

"  We  have  had  to  repass  the  Rhine,  and  all  our 
strongholds  on  the  other  side  are  blockaded.  The  10th 
of  November  last  the  Prince  of  Neufchatel  reviewed 
the  regiment  at  Bleckheim.  The  3d  battalion  had 
been  amalgamated  with  the  2d,  and  the  '  cadre ' 
received  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to  leave  for  the 


44       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

depot.  Cadres  are  not  wanting,  but  men.  As  for 
twenty  years  we  have  been  bled  on  all  sides,  it  is  not 
astonishing.  All  Europe  is  down  upon  us.  The 
Emperor  is  at  Paris  ;  he  is  laying  down  a  plan  of  the 
campaign.  If  we  may  only  have  breathing  time 
till  the  spring ' 

Just  then  Wittmann,  who  was  standing  by  the 
window,  said, — "  Here  is  the  governor  come  from 
inspecting  the  clearings  around  the  town." 

It  was  the  commandant,  Jean-Pierre  Meunier, 
wearing  a  three-cornered  hat,  and  a  tricolor  scarf 
around  his  waist,  who  crossed  over  the  square. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  sergeant,  "  I  must  get  him  to 
sign  my  papers.  Pardon,  citizen  ;  I  must  leave 
you." 

"  Do  so,  sergeant  :  and  thank  you.  If  you  meet 
Gaspard,  tell  him  that  Jean-Claude  Hullin  embraces 
him,  and  that  they  expect  tidings  from  him  in  the 
village." 

"  Good— good.     I  will  not  fail  to  do  so." 

The  sergeant  went  out,  and  Hullin  finished  his 
wine  in  a  reverie. 

"  Father  Wittmann,"  said  he,  after  a  pause, 
"  what  of  my  parcel?  " 

"  It  is  ready,  Master  Jean-Claude."  Then,  look- 
ing into  the  kitchen,  "  Gredel  !  Gredel  !  bring 
Hullin's  parcel" 


AT   PHALSBOURG  45 

A  little  woman  appeared,  and  put  down  on  the 
table  a  roll  of  sheepskins.  Jean-Claude  passed  his 
stick  through  it,  and  lifted  it  over  his  shoulder. 

"  What,  you  are  going  to  leave  us  so  soon?  " 

"  Yes,  Wittmann.  The  days  are  short,  and  the 
roads  difficult  through  the  forests  after  six  o'clock. 
I  must  get  back  early." 

"  Then  a  safe  journey  to  you,  Master  Jean- 
Claude." 

Hullin  left,  and  crossed  the  square,  turning  away 
his  face  from  the  convoy,  which  still  remained  be- 
fore the  church. 

The  innkeeper  from  his  window  watched  him 
hurrying  away,  and  thought  to  himself,  "  How 
white  he  looked  on  entering  ;  he  could  hardly  keep 
upright.  It  is  queer  that  such  a  sturdy  man,  and 
an  old  soldier  too,  should  not  have  energy  enough 
for  a  cat.  As  for  me,  I  would  see  fifty  regiments 
go  by  on  those  carts  without  minding  it  any  more 
than  I  did  my  first  pipe." 


CHAPTER  IV 

MADAME    LEFEVBE 

WHILE  Hullin  was  learning  the  disaster  of  our 
armies,  and  was  walking  slowly,  his  head  bent,  and 
an  anxious  expression  on  his  face,  toward  the  vil- 
lage of  Charines,  everything  went  on  as  usual  at  the 
farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes.  No  one  thought  of  Ye- 
gof 's  wonderful  stories,  or  of  the  war  :  old  Duchene 
led  his  oxen  to  their  drinking-place,  the  herdsman 
Robin  turned  over  their  litter  ;  Annette  and  Jeanne 
skimmed  their  curdled  milk.  Only  Catherine  Le- 
f  evre  was  silent  and  gloomy — thinking  of  days  gone 
by — all  the  while  superintending  with  an  impas- 
sible face  the  occupations  of  her  domestics.  She  was 
too  old  and  too  serious  to  forget  from  one  day  to 
another  what  had  so  much  troubled  her.  When 
night  came  on,  after  the  evening's  repast,  she  en- 
tered the  great  room,  where  her  servants  could  hear 
her  drawing  the  large  register-book  from  the  closet 
and  putting  it  on  the  table,  to  sum  up  her  accounts, 
as  she  was  in  the  habit  of  doing. 
46 


MADAME   LEFEVRE  47 

They  soon  began  to  load  the  cart  with  corn,  vege- 
tables, and  poultry  :  for  the  next  day  there  was  a 
market  at  Sarrebourg,  and  Duchene  had  to  start 
early. 

Picture  to  yourself  the  great  kitchen,  and  all  these 
worthy  folks  hurrying  to  finish  their  work  before 
going  to  rest  :  the  black  kettle,  full  of  beetroot  and 
potatoes  destined  for  the  cattle,  boiling  on  an  im- 
mense pinewood  fire  ;  the  plates,  dishes,  and  soup- 
tureens  shining  like  suns  on  the  shelves  ;  the  bunch- 
es of  garlic  and  of  reddish-brown  onions  hung  up  in 
rows  to  the  beams  of  the  ceiling,  among  the  hams 
and  flitches  of  bacon  ;  Jeannie,  in  her  blue  cap  and 
little  red  petticoat,  stirring  up  the  contents  of  the 
kettle  with  a  big  wooden  spoon  ;  the  wicker  cages, 
with  the  cackling  fowls  and  great  cock,  who  pushed 
his  head  through  the  bars  and  looked  at  the  flames 
with  a  wondering  eye  and  raised  crest  ;  the  bull-dog 
Michel,  with  his  flat  head  and  hanging  jowl,  in 
search  of  some  forgotten  dish  ;  Dubourg  coming 
down  the  creaking  staircase  to  the  left,  his  back  bent 
with  a  sack  on  his  shoulder  ;  while  outside,  in  the 
dark  night,  old  Duchene,  upright  on  the  cart,  lifted 
his  lantern  and  called  out,  "  That  makes  the  fif- 
teenth, Dubourg  ;  two  more."  One  could  see  also, 
hanging  against  the  wall,  an  old  hare,brought  by  the 
hunter  Heinrich  to  be  sold  at  the  market,  and  a  fine 


48       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

grouse,  with  its  purple  and  green  plumage,  dimmed 
eye,  and  a  drop  of  blood  at  the  end  of  its  beak. 

It  was  about  half-past  seven  when  the  sound  of 
footsteps  was  heard  at  the  entrance  to  the  yard.  The 
bull-dog  went  toward  the  door  growling.  He  lis- 
tened, sniffed  the  night  air,  then  went  back  quietly, 
and  began  licking  his  dish  again. 

"  It  is  some  one  belonging  to  the  farm,"  said  An- 
nette. "  Michel  does  not  move." 

Nearly  at  the  same  time,  old  Duchene  from  out- 
side called, — "  Good-night,  Master  Jean-Claude. 
Is  it  you?" 

"  Yes.  I  come  from  Phalsbourg  ;  and  I  am  go- 
ing to  rest  myself  a  minute  before  going  down  to  tho 
village.  Is  Catherine  here? 

And  then  the  good  man  came  forward  to  the  light, 
his  hat  pushed  off  his  face,  and  his  roll  of  sheep- 
skins on  his  back. 

"  Good-night,  my  children,"  said  he  ;  "  good- 
night !  Always  at  work  !  " 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  Hullin,  as  you  see,"  replied 
Jeanne,  laughing.  "  If  one  had  nothing  to  do,  life 
would  be  very  wearisome." 

"  True,  my  pretty  girl,  true.  It  is  only  work 
which  gives  you  your  roses  and  brilliant  eyes." 

Jeanne  was  going  to  answer,  when  the  door  of 
the  great  room  opened,  and  Catherine  Lefevre  ad- 


MADAME   LEFEVRE  49 

vanced,  looking  piercingly  at  Hullin,  as  though  to 
guess  beforehand  what  news  he  brought. 

"  Well,  Jean-Claude,  you  have  returned." 

"  Yes,  Catherine  ;  with  good  tidings  and  bad." 

They  entered  the  large  room — a  high  and  spa- 
cious apartment  wainscoted  with  wood  to  the  ceiling, 
with  its  oak  closets  and  their  shining  clasps,  its  iron 
stove  opening  into  the  kitchen,  its  old  clock  count- 
ing the  seconds  in  its  walnut-wood  case,  and  the 
leathern  arm-chair,  worn  and  used  by  ten  genera- 
tions of  aged  men.  Jean-Claude  never  went  into 
this  room  without  its  bringing  back  to  his  remem- 
brance Catherine's  grandfather,  whom  he  seemed 
still  to  see,  with  his  white  head,  sitting  behind  the 
oven  in  the  dark. 

"  Well?  "  demanded  the  old  dame,  offering  a 
chair  to  the  old  shoemaker,  who  was  just  putting  his 
pack  down  on  the  table. 

"  Well,  from  Gaspard  the  tidings  are  good  ;  the 
boy  is  in  good  health.  He  has  had  hardships.  All 
the  better  :  it  will  be  the  making  of  him.  But  for 
the  rest,  Catherine,  it  is  bad.  The  war  !  the  war  !  " 

He  shook  his  head,  and  the  old  woman,  her  lips 
pressed,  sat  down  facing  him,  upright  in  the  arm- 
chair, her  eyes  attentively  fastened  on  him. 

"  So  things  look  badly — decidedly — we  shall 
have  the  war  among  us?  " 

4 


50       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Yes,  Catherine,  from  day  to  day  we  may  expect 
to  see  the  allies  in  our  mountains." 

"  I  thought  so.  I  was  sure  of  it  ;  but  speak, 
Jean-Claude." 

Hullin,  then,  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  his  red  ears 
between  his  hands,  and  lowering  his  voice,  began 
to  relate  all  he  had  seen:  the  clearing  of  every- 
thing around  the  town,  the  placing  of  batteries  on 
the  ramparts,  the  proclamation  of  the  state  of  siege, 
the  cart-loads  of  wounded  on  the  great  square,  his 
meeting  with  the  old  sergeant  at  Wittmann's,  and 
the  story  of  the  campaign.  From  time  to  time  he 
paused,  and  the  old  mistress  of  the  farm  blinked 
her  eyes  slowly,  as  though  to  impress  more  deeply 
the  various  circumstances  on  her  mind.  When 
Jean-Claude  told  about  the  wounded,  the  good 
woman  murmured  softly — "  Gaspard  has  then  es- 
caped it  all!  " 

Then,  at  the  end  of  this  mournful  tale,  there  was 
a  long  silence,  and  both  looked  at  each  other  without 
pronouncing  a  word. 

How  many  reflections,  how  many  bitter  feelings 
filled  their  souls  ! 

After  some  seconds,  Catherine  recovering  from 
these  terrible  thoughts — "  You  see,  Jean-Claude," 
said  she,  in  a  serious  tone.  "  Yegof  was  not  wrong." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,  he  was  not  wrong,"  replied 


MADAME    LEFEVRE  51 

Hullin  ;  "  but  what  does  that  prove?  A  madman, 
who  goes  from  village  to  village,  who  descends  into 
Alsace,  and  from  thence  to  Lorraine — who  wanders 
from  right  to  left — it  would  be  very  astonishing  if 
he  saw  nothing,  and  if  he  did  not  sometimes  tell  the 
truth  in  his  madness.  Everything  gets  muddled  in 
his  head,  and  others  believe  they  understand  what 
he  does  not  understand  himself.  But  what  of  these 
wild  stories,  Catherine?  The  Austrians  are  upon 
us.  It  only  concerns  us  to  know  if  we  shall  allow 
them  to  pass,  or  if  we  shall  have  courage  to  defend 
ourselves." 

"  To  defend  ourselves  !  "  cried  the  old  woman, 
whose  white  cheeks  trembled  :  "  if  we  shall  have 
courage  to  defend  ourselves  !  Surely  it  is  not  to  me 
that  you  speak,  Hullin.  What  !  are  we  not  worthy 
of  our  ancestors?  Did  they  not  defend  themselves? 
Were  they  not  exterminated — men,  women,  and 
children?" 

"  Then  you  are  for  the  defence,  Catherine?  " 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  so  long  as  there  remains  to  me  a  bit 
of  skin  on  my  bones.  Let  them  come  !  The  oldest 
of  the  women  is  ready  !  " 

Her  masses  of  gray  hair  shook  on  her  head,  her 
pale  rigid  cheeks  quivered,  and  her  eyes  sent  forth 
lightnings.  She  was  beautiful  to  see — beautiful, 
like  that  old  Margareth  of  whom  Yegof  had  spoken. 


52       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Hullin  held  out  his  hand  silently,  and  gave  an  en- 
thusiastic smile. 

"  Excellent,"  said  he — "  excellent  !  We  are  al- 
ways the  same  in  this  family.  I  know  you,  Cath- 
erine :  you  are  ready  now  ;  but  be  calm  and  listen 
to  me.  We  are  going  to  fight,  and  in  what  way?  " 

"  In  every  way  ;  all  are  good — axes,  scythes, 
pitchforks." 

"  No  doubt  ;  but  the  best  are  muskets  and  the 
balls.  We  have  muskets  :  every  mountaineer  keeps 
his  above  his  door  ;  unfortunately  powder  and  balls 
are  scarce." 

The  old  dame  became  quieter  all  of  a  sudden ;  she 
pushed  her  hair  back  under  her  cap,  and  looked 
anxiously  about. 

"  Yes,"  she  rejoined  brusquely  ;  "  the  powder 
and  balls  are  wanting,  it  is  true,  but  we  shall  have 
some.  Marc  Dives,  the  smuggler,  has  some.  You 
shall  go  and  see  him  to-morrow  from  me.  You 
shall  tell  him  that  Catherine  Lefevre  will  buy  all  his 
powder  and  balls  ;  that  she  will  pay  him  ;  that  she 
will  sell  her  cattle,  her  farm,  land,  everything — 
everything — to  have  some.  Do  you  understand, 
Hullin?" 

"  I  understand.  What  you  would  do,  Catherine, 
is  noble." 

"  Bah  I  it  is  noble— it  is  noble  !  "  replied  the  old 


MADAME   LEFEVRE  53 

dame.  "  It  is  quite  simple  ;  I  wish  to  revenge  my- 
self. These  Austrians — these  red  men  who  have 
already  exterminated  us — well  !  I  hate  them,  I  de- 
test them,  from  father  to  son.  There  !  you  will 
buy  powder,  and  these  mad  ruffians  shall  see  if  we 
will  rebuild  their  castles." 

Hullin  then  perceived  that  she  still  thought  of 
Yegof 's  tale  ;  but  seeing  how  exasperated  she  was, 
and  that,  besides,  her  idea  contributed  to  the  de- 
fence of  the  country,  made  no  observation  on  that 
subject,  and  said  calmly, — "  So,  Catherine,  it  is  set- 
tled; I  am  to  go  over  to  Marc  Dives's  to-morrow!  " 

"  Yes  !  you  shall  buy  all  his  powder  and  lead. 
Some  one  ought  also  to  go  the  round  of  the  moun- 
tain villages,  to  warn  the  people  of  what  is  coming, 
and  to  arrange  a  signal  beforehand  for  bringing 
them  together  in  case  of  attack." 

"  Do  not  fear,"  said  Jean-Claude.  "  I  will  un- 
dertake to  charge  myself  with  that." 

Both  rose  and  turned  toward  the  door.  For 
about  half  an  hour  no  sounds  were  heard  in  the 
kitchen  ;  the  farm-servants  had  gone  to  bed.  The 
old  dame  put  down  her  lamp  on  the  corner  of  the 
hearth,  and  drew  the  bolts.  Outside  the  cold  was 
intense,  the  air  still  and  clear.  All  the  peaks  round, 
and  the  pine-trees  of  the  Jagerthal,  stood  out  against 
the  sky  in  dark  or  light  masses.  In  the  distance,  far 


54       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

away  behind  the  hill-side,  a  fox  giving  chase  could 
be  heard  yelping  in  the  valley  of  Blanru. 

"  Good-night,  Hullin,"  said  Catherine. 

"  Good-night." 

Jean-Claude  walked  quickly  away  on  the  heath- 
covered  slopes,  and  the  mistress  of  the  farm,  after 
watching  him  for  a  second,  shut  her  door  again. 

I  leave  you  to  imagine  the  joy  of  Louise  when 
she  learnt  that  Gaspard  was  safe  and  sound.  The 
poor  child  had  hardly  been  living  for  two  months. 
Hullin  took  care  not  to  show  her  the  dark  cloud 
which  was  coming  over  the  horizon. 

Through  the  night  he  could  hear  her  prattling  in 
her  little  room,  talking  as  though  congratulating 
herself,  murmuring  Gaspard's  name,  opening  her 
drawers  and  boxes,  without  doubt  so  as  to  hunt  up 
some  relics  in  them  and  tell  them  of  her  love. 

So  the  linnet  drenched  in  the  storm,  will,  while 
yet  shivering,  begin  to  sing  and  hop  from  branch  to 
branch  with  the  first  simbeam. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE    DEPOT 

WHEN  Jean-Claude  Hullin,  in  his  shirt-sleeves, 
opened  the  shutters  of  his  little  house  the  next 
morning,  he  saw  all  the  neighboring  mountains — 
the  Jagerthal,  the  Grosmann,  the  Donon — covered 
with  snow.  This  first  appearance  of  winter,  com- 
ing in  our  sleep,  is  very  striking  to  us  :  the  old  pines, 
the  mossy  rocks,  adorned  only  the  night  before  with 
verdure,  and  now  sparkling  with  rime,  fill  our  souls 
with  an  indefinable  sadness.  "  Another  year  gone 
by,"  one  says  to  one's  self  ;  "  another  hard  season 
to  pass  before  the  return  of  the  flowers  !  "  And 
one  hastens  to  put  on  the  great-coat  and  to  light  the 
fire.  Your  sombre  habitation  is  filled  with  a  white 
light,  and  outside,  for  the  first  time,  you  hear  the 
sparrows — the  poor  sparrows  huddled  under  the 
thatch,  their  feathers  ruffled — calling,  "  No  break- 
fast this  morning — no  breakfast  !  " 

Hullin  drew  on  his  big  iron-nailed,  double-soled 
shoes,  and  over  his  vest  a  great  thick  cloth  waist- 
coat. 

55 


56       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

He  heard  Louise  walking  overhead  in  the  little 
garret. 

"  Louise,"  t  he  cried,  "  I  am  going." 
"  What  !    you  are  going  away  to-day  also? " 
"  Yes,  my  child  :  it  must  be  so  :   my  affairs  are 
not  yet  finished." 

Then,  having  doffed  his  large  hat,  he  went  up  the 
stair,  and  said,  in  a  low  tone  :  "  Thou  must  not  ex- 
pect me  back  so  soon,  my  child.  I  have  to  make 
some  distant  rounds.  Do  not  be  uneasy.  If  any 
one  ask  where  I  am,  thou  art  to  reply,  '  He  is  with 
Cousin  Mathias  at  Saverne.'  " 

"  You  will  not  have  breakfast  before  leaving?  " 
"  "No  :  I  have  a  crust  of  bread  and  the  small  flask 
of  brandy  in  my  pocket.     Adieu,  my  child  !      Re- 
joice, and  dream  of  Gaspard." 

And,  without  waiting  for  fresh  questions,  he  took 
his  stick  and  left  the  house,  going  in  the  direction 
of  the  hill  of  Bouleaux  to  the  left  of  the  village.  In 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  had  passed  it  by.  and  reached 
the  path  of  the  Trois-Fontaines,  which  winds  round 
the  Falkenstein  along  by  a  little  wall  of  dry  stones. 
The  first  snow,  which  never  lasts  in  the  damp  shades 
of  the  valleys,  was  beginning  to  melt  and  run  down 
the  path.  Hullin  got  on  the  wall  to  climb  the  as- 
cent. On  giving  an  accidental  look  toward  the  vil- 
lage, he  saw  a  few  women  sweeping  before  their 


THE   DEPOT  57 

doors,  a  few  old  men  wishing  each  other  the  "  Good- 
day  "  while  smoking  their  first  pipes  on  the  thresh- 
old of  their  cottages.  The  deep  calm  of  life,  in 
presence  of  his  agitating  thoughts,  affected  him 
much.  He  continued  his  way  pensively,  saying  to 
himself,  "  How  quiet  everything  is  down  there  ! 
Nobody  has  any  idea  of  anything  ;  yet  in  a  few 
days,  what  clamors,  what  rolls  of  musketry,  will 
rend  the  air  !  " 

As  the  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  procure  pow- 
der, Catherine  Lefevre  had  very  naturally  cast  her 
eyes  on  Marc  Dives  the  smuggler,  and  his  virtuous 
spouse,  Hexe-Baizel. 

These  people  lived  on  the  other  side  of  the  Fal- 
kenstein,  under  the  base  of  the  old  ruined  castle. 
They  had  hollowed  inside  a  sort  of  den,  very  com- 
fortable, possessing  one  door  and  two  skylights,  but 
according  to  certain  rumors,  communicating  with 
ancient  caves  by  a  rift  in  the  rock.  The  custom- 
house officers  had  never  been  able  to  discover  these 
caves,  notwithstanding  numerous  domiciliary  visits 
for  that  purpose.  Jean-"Claude  and  Marc  Dives  had 
known  each  other  from  infancy  ;  they  had  gone 
nesting  together  after  hawks  and  owls,  and  since 
that  time  had  seen  each  other  nearly  every  week  at 
the  saw-mills  of  Valtin.  Hullin,  therefore,  believed 
himself  sure  of  the  smuggler,  but  he  had  some 


58       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

doubts  of  Madame  Hexe-Baizel,  a  most  cautious  per- 
son, who  would  not,  in  all  probability,  have  the  war- 
like instinct  sufficiently  developed.  "  But  we  shall 
see,"  he  said  to  himself  as  he  went  along. 

He  had  lit  his  pipe,  and  from  time  to  time  turned 
round  to  contemplate  the  immense  landscape,  whose 
limits  were  extending  more  and  more. 

Nothing  could  be  grander  than  those  wooded 
mountains,  rising  one  above  the  other  in  the  pale 
sky — those  vast  heather  plains,  stretching  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  see,  white  with  snow  ;  those  black 
ravines,  shut  in  between  the  woods,  with  torrents 
at  the  bottom,  dashing  over  the  greenish  pebbles 
polished  like  bronze. 

And  then  the  silence — the  great  silence  of  win- 
ter !  The  soft  snow  falling  from  the  top  of  the 
loftiest  pine-trees  onto  their  lower  drooping  branch- 
es :  the  birds  of  prey  circling  in  couples  above  the 
forests,  screaming  out  their  war-cry  :  all  this  ought 
to  be  seen  for  it  cannot  be  described. 

An  hour  after  his  departure  from  the  village  of 
Charmes,  Hullin,  climbing  the  summit  of  the  peak, 
reached  the  base  of  the  rock  of  the  Arbousiers.  All 
round  this  granite  mass  extends  a  sort  of  rugged  ter- 
race, three  or  four  feet  wide.  This  narrow  passage, 
surrounded  by  the  tall  pines  growing  out  from  the 
precipice,  looks  dangerous,  but  it  is  safe  ;  unless  one 


THE   DEPOT  59 

feels  dizzy,  there  is  no  danger  in  going  along  it. 
Overhead  projects,  in  a  vaulted  arch,  the  rock  cov- 
ered with  ruins. 

Jean-Claude  was  approaching  the  retreat  of  the 
smuggler.  He  halted  a  minute  on  the  terrace,  put 
back  his  pipe  into  his  pocket,  then  advanced  along 
the  passage,  which  forms  a  half-circle,  and  ends  on 
the  other  side  with  a  chasm.  Quite  at  the  farthest 
extremity  of  it,  and  almost  on  the  edge  of  the  chasm, 
he  perceived  the  two  skylight  windows  of  the  den 
and  the  partly  opened  door.  A  great  heap  of  ma- 
nure was  collected  in  front  of  it. 

At  the  same  time  Hexe-Baizel  appeared,  tossing, 
with  a  broom  made  of  green  furze,  the  manure  into 
the  abyss.  This  woman  was  small  and  hard-look- 
ing ;  she  had  shaggy  red  hair,  hollow  cheeks,  point- 
ed nose,  little  eyes,  bright  like  two  sparks,  thin  lips, 
very  white  teeth,  and  a  florid  complexion.  As  for 
her  costume,  it  was  composed  of  a  short  dirty  wool- 
len petticoat,  and  a  coarse  but  clean  chemise  ;  her 
brown,  muscular  arms,  covered  with  yellow  hairs, 
were  bare  to  the  elbows,  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
cessive cold  of  the  winter  at  this  height  ;  and,  lastly, 
all  she  had  on  her  feet  were  a  pair  of  long  shoes 
hanging  in  shreds. 

"  Ha  !  good-day,  Hexe-Baizel,"  Jean-Claude 
called  out,  good  naturedly  but  with  a  tone  of  rail- 


60       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

leiy.       "  You  are  always  fair  and  fat,  happy  and 
lively  !     It  gives  me  pleasure  !  " 

Hexe-Baizel  turned  sharply,  like  a  weasel  sur- 
prised on  the  watch  ;  her  red  hair  stiffened,  and  her 
little  eyes  flashed  fire.  However,  she  calmed  down 
immediately,  and  exclaimed,  in  a  curt  voice,  as 
though  speaking  to  herself,  "  Hullin — the  shoe- 
maker !  What  does  he  want?  " 

"  I  am  come  to  see  my  friend  Marc,  fair  Hexe- 
Baizel,"  replied  Jean-Claude  ;  "  we  have  some  bus- 
iness to  settle  together." 

"  What  business? " 

"  Ah,  it  only  concerns  us.  Here  let  me  pass  that 
I  may  speak  to  him." 

"  Marc  is  asleep." 

"  Well,  he  must  be  awakened  then  ;  the  time  is 
precious." 

So  saying,  Hullin  stooped  under  the  door,  and 
penetrated  into  a  cavern,  whose  vault,  instead  "of  be- 
ing round,  was  composed  of  irregular  curves,  scored 
with  fissures.  Close  to  the  entrance,  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  the  rock  formed  a  sort  of  natural  fire- 
place, on  which  burned  a  few  coals  and  branches  of 
juniper.  Hexe-Baizel's  culinary  utensils  consisted 
of  an  iron  kettle,  a  stone  pot,  two  broken  plates,  and 
three  or  four  tin  forks  ;  her  furniture  comprised  a 
wooden  stool,  a  hatchet  to  split  wood,  a  salt  box 


THE    DEPOT  6l 

fastened  to  the  rock,  and  her  large  furze  broom.  To 
the  left  of  this  kitchen  was  another  cavern,  with  a 
curious  door,  larger  at  the  top  than  at  the  bottom, 
closing  by  aid  of  two  planks  and  a  cross-bar. 

"  Well,  where  is  Marc? "  said  Hullin,  seating 
himself  near  the  hearth. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  he  is  asleep.  He 
returned  home  late  yesterday.  My  husband  must 
sleep,  don't  you  hear?  " 

"  I  hear  very  well,  dear  Hexe-Baizel  ;  but  I  have 
no  time  to  wait." 

"  Then  go  away  !  " 

"  Go  away?  It  is  easy  said  ;  only  I  won't  go 
away.  I  did  not  walk  three  miles,  to  turn  back  with 
my  hands  in  my  pockets." 

"Is  it  thou,  Hullin?"  interrupted  a  brusque 
voice  coming  from  the  neighboring  cavern. 

"  Yes,  Marc." 

"  Ah  !  I'm  coming." 

The  sound  of  straw  in  motion  could  be  heard  ; 
then  the  wooden  barrier  was  withdrawn  ;  and  a 
huge  frame,  three  feet  broad  from  one  shoulder  to 
the  other,  wiry,  bony,  with  neck  and  ears  brick- 
color,  and  thick  brown  hair,  appeared  in  the  door- 
way, and  Marc  Dives  drew  himself  up  before  Hul- 
lin, yawning  and  stretching  his  long  arms  with  $ 
short  sigh.  ,:.„....,  t 


62       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

At  first  sight,  the  physiognomy  of  Marc  Dives 
seemed  peaceable  enough:  his  low  broad  forehead, 
bare  temples,  short  curly  hair  coming  down  in  a  point 
almost  to  the  eyebrows,  his  straight  nose  and  long 
chin — above  all  the  quiet  expression  in  his  brown 
eyes — would  have  caused  him  to  be  classed  among 
the  ruminating  rather  than  the  wilder  animals  ;  but 
one  would  have  been  wrong  in  thinking  so.  Cer- 
tain rumors  were  prevalent  in  the  country  that  Marc 
Dives,  when  attacked  by  the  custom-house  people, 
had  never  any  hesitation  to  use  his  axe  or  carbine  to 
decide  the  dispute  ;  to  him  were  attributed  several 
serious  accidents  which  had  happened  to  tire  fiscal 
agents  ;  but  proofs  were  completely  wanting.  The 
smuggler,  owing  to  his  thorough  knowledge  of  all 
the  mountain  defiles  and  by-roads  from  Dagsburg 
to  Sarrbriick,  and  from  Raon-FEtape  to  Bale  in 
Switzerland,  was  always  fifteen  leagues  from  any 
place  where  a  wicked  action  had  been  committed. 
And  then  he  had  such  an  ingenuous  look  !  and  those 
who  connected  him  with  sinister  tales  generally  fin- 
ished badly  :  which  clearly  shows  the  justice  with 
which  Providence  sways  the  world. 

"  Faith,  Hullin,"  said  Marc,  after  having  left  his 
lair,  "  I  was  thinking  of  thee  yesterday  evening, 
and  if  thou  hadst  not  appeared,  I  should  have 
gone  expressly  to  the  saw-mills  of  Tallin  to  meet 


THE   DEPOT  63 

Ihee.  Sit  down !  Hexe-Baizel,  give  a  chair  to  Hul- 
lin!" 

Then  he  placed  himself  on  the  hearth,  his 
back  to  the  fire,  in  front  of  the  open  door,  which 
was  raked  by  all  the  winds  of  Alsace  and  Switzer- 
land. 

Through  this  opening  there  was  a  magnificent 
view  :  it  might  be  compared  to  a  picture  framed  in 
the  rock — an  enormous  picture,  embracing  the 
whole  valley  of  the  Rhine,  and  the  mountains  be- 
yond, which  melted  away  in  the  mist.  And  then 
one  could  breathe  so  freely  !  and  the  little  fire, 
which  glimmered  in  the  owl's-nest,  was  a  place  to 
look  on,  with  its  red  light,  after  one  had  gazed  into 
the  azure  expanse. 

"  Marc,"  said  Hullin,  after  a  short  pause,  "  may 
I  speak  before  thy  wife?  " 

"  We  are  as  one,  she  and  I." 

"  "Well,  Marc,  I  am  come  to  buy  powder  and  lead 
of  thee." 

"  To  kill  hares,  is  it  not  so?  "  observed  the  smug- 
gler, winking. 

"  No,  to  fight  against  the  Germans  and  Rus- 
sians." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence. 

"  And  thou  wilt  want  much  powder  and  lead?  " 

11  All  that  thou  canst  supply." 


64       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  I  can  supply  as  much  as  three  thousand  francs' 
worth  to-day,"  said  the  smuggler. 

"  Then  I'll  take  it." 

"  And  as  much  more  in  a  week,"  added  Marc, 
with  the  same  calm  manner  and  eager  look. 

"  I  take  that  also." 

"  You  will  take  it  !  "  cried  Hexe-Baizel.  "  You 
will  take  it  !  I  should  think  so  !  But  who  is  to 
pay?" 

"  Hold  thy  tongue  !  "  said  Marc,  roughly, 
"  Hullin  takes  it  :  and  his  word  is  enough  for  me." 
And  holding  out  his  large  hand  cordially  :  "  Jean- 
Claude,  here  is  my  hand  :  the  powder  and  lead  are 
thine  :  but  I  must  have  my  price,  dost  thou  under- 
stand? " 

"Yes,  Marc:  only  I  intend  paying  thee  at 
once." 

"  He  will  pay,  Hexe-Baizel,  dost  thou  hear?  " 

"  Eh,  I  am  not  deaf,  Baizel.  Go  and  find  a  bottle 
of  '  brimbelle-wasser  '  for  us,  so  that  we  may  warm 
our  hearts  a  little.  What  Hullin  tells  me  rejoices 
me.  These  rascally  l  kaiserlichs  '  will  not  have 
the  easy  game  against  us  that  I  thought.  It  appears 
that  we  are  going  to  defend  ourselves,  and  right 
well." 

"Yes,  right  well!" 

"  And  there  are  people  who  can  pay?  " 


THE   DEPOT  65 

"  Catherine  Lefevre  pays,  and  she  it  is  who  sends 
me,"  saidHullin. 

Then  Marc  Dives  rose,  and  in  a  solemn  tone,  and 
pointing  toward  the  precipice,  exclaimed,  "  She  is 
a  woman  indeed — a  woman  as  grand  as  that  rock 
down  there,  the  Oxenstein,  the  greatest  I  have  ever 
seen  in  my  life.  I  drink  to  her  health.  Drink 
also,  Jean-Claude." 

Hullin  drank,  then  Hexe-Baizel. 

"  Xow  everything  has  been  said,"  continued 
Dives  ;  "  but  listen,  Hullin.  Do  not  believe  that 
it  will  be  an  easy  matter  to  check  the  enemy  :  all 
the  hunters,  all  the  sawyers,  all  the  wood-cutters  and 
carriers  on  the  mountains  will  not  be  too  many.  I 
come  from  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine.  They  are 
so  many — those  Russians,  Austrians,  Bavarians, 
Prussians,  Cossacks,  and  Hussars — they  are  so 
many,  that  the  earth  is  black  with  them.  The  vil- 
lages cannot  hold  them  :  they  camp  on  the  plains, 
in  the  valleys,  on  the  hills,  in  the  towns,  in  the  open 
air — they  are  to  be  found  everywhere." 

At  that  moment  a  shrill  cry  was  heard. 

"  It  is  a  buzzard  chasing  something,"  said  Marc, 
stopping. 

But  just  then  a  shadow  came  over  the  rock.  A 
cloud  of  chaffinches  cleared  the  abyss,  and  hundreds 
of  buzzards  and  hawks  fought  above  them  in  their 

5 


66       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

rapid  flight,  uttering  loud  screams  to  terrify  their 
prey,  while  the  mass  seemed  stationary,  so  dense  was 
it.  The  regular  movement  of  these  thousands  of 
wings  produced,  in  the  silence,  a  sound  like  that  of 
dead  leaves  blown  in  the  wind. 

"  That  is  the  departure  of  the  chaffinches  of  the 
Ardennes,"  said  Hullin. 

"  Yes,  it  is  the  last  passage  :  the  beech-nuts  are 
buried  under  the  snow,  and  the  seeds  also.  Well, 
then,  look  !  there  are  more  men  over  there  than 
birds  in  this  pass.  All  the  same,  Jean-Claude,  we 
will  get  over  them,  so  long  as  every  one  bears  a  hand 
in  it  !  Hexe-Baizel,  light  the  lantern  :  I  am  going 
to  show  Hullin  our  supplies  of  powder  and  lead." 

Hexe-Baizel  made  a  face  at  this  proposition. 
"  For  twenty  years,"  said  she,  "  no  one  has  gone 
into  the  cave.  He  can  surely  believe  our  word. 
We  believe,  for  our  part,  that  he  will  pay  us.  I  will 
not  light  the  lantern — no,  indeed  !  " 

Marc,  without  saying  anything,  put  out  his  hand 
and  caught  up  a  cudgel  from  the  pile  of  wood  ; 
thereupon  the  old  woman  darted  into  the  nearest 
hole  like  a  weasel,  and,  two  seconds  later,  came  out 
with  a  big  horn  lantern,  which  Dives  quietly  lit  at 
the  fire  on  the  hearth. 

"  Baizel,"  said  he,  replacing  the  stick  in  its  cor- 
ner, "  thou  must  know  that  Jean-Claude  is  an  old 


THE   DEPOT  67 

friend  of  my  childhood,  and  that  I  confide  much 
more  in  him  than  in  thee,.  old  wench ;  for  wert  thou 
not  afraid  of  being  hanged  the  same  day  as  myself, 
I  should  long  ago  have  been  swinging  to  a  rope's 
end.  Come,  Hullin,  follow  me." 

They  went  out,  and  the  smuggler,  turning  to  the 
left,  walked  straight  toward  the  chasm,  which  pro- 
jected over  the  Valtin  two  hundred  feet  in  the  air. 
He  pushed  aside  the  branches  of  a  little  oak,  which 
had  its  roots  down  below,  put  forth  his  leg,  and  dis- 
appeared as  though  pitched  into  the  abyss.  Jean- 
Claude  shuddered,  but  directly  after  he  saw,  against 
the  side  of  the  rock,  the  head  of  Dives,  who  called  to 
him, — "  Hullin,  put  out  thy  hand  to  the  left — 
there  is  a  hole.  Stretch  thy  leg  out  boldly — thou 
wilt  feel  a  step,  and  then  turn  around." 

Master  Jean-Claude  obeyed,  with  some  trepida- 
tion. He  could  feel  the  hole  in  the  rock,  he  found 
the  step,  and  turning  slightly,  was  face  to  face  with 
his  comrade  in  a  sort  of  arched  niche,  evidently  abut- 
ting on  a  sally-port  in  times  past.  At  the  end  of  the 
niche  there  was  a  low  vault. 

"  How  the  devil  didst  thou  discover  that? "  ex- 
claimed Hullin,  much  astonished. 

"  In  seeking  after  nests  thirty-five  years  ago.  I 
was  one  day  on  the  rock,  and  I  had  often  observe^ 
flying  from  there  a  horned-owl  and  its  mate,  two 


68       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

splendid  birds  :  their  heads  were  the  size  of  my 
fists,  and  the  wings  six  feet  broad.  I  could  hear 
their  young  calling,  and  I  said  to  myself,  '  They 
are  near  the  cavern,  at  the  end  of  the  terrace.  If  I 
could  get  round  a  little  beyond  the  chasm  I  should 
have  them  !  By  dint  of  looking  and  bending  over, 
I  perceived  at  last  a  corner  of  the  step  above  the 
precipice.  There  was  a  strong  holly-bush  at  one 
side.  I  caught  hold  of  it,  put  out  my  leg,  and, 
faith,  I  found  myself  here.  What  a  fight,  Hullin  ! 
The  old  birds  wanted  to  tear  out  my  eyes.  Luckily, 
it  was  broad  daylight.  They  went  at  me  like  cocks, 
opened  their  beaks  and  hissed,  but  the  sun  dazzled 
them.  I  kicked  them.  Finally,  they  fell  on  to  the 
top  of  an  old  pine-tree  down  there,  and  all  the  jays 
in  the  country,  the  thrushes,  chaffinches  and  tom- 
tits, flew  about  them  till  nightfall,  plucking  out  their 
feathers.  Thou  canst  not  imagine,  Jean-Claude, 
the  quantity  of  bones,  rat-skins,  leverets,  and  carrion 
of  all  sorts  that  they  had  heaped  up  in  this  niche. 
It  was  pestilential.  I  threw  it  all  into  the  Jager- 
thal,  and  I  discovered  this  passage.  But  I  must  also 
tell  thee  that  there  were  two  young  ones.  I  twisted 
their  necks  and  poked  them  into  my  bag.  After- 
ward, I  quietly  entered,  and  thou  shalt  see  what  I 
found.  Come  !  " 

They  slipped  under  the  narrow  archway,  formed 


THE   DEPOT  69< 

of  enormous  red  stones,  where  the  light  threw  only 
a  nickering  glimmer. 

Thirty  paces  farther  on,  a  vast  circular  cave,  low 
in  the  middle,  and  formed  in  the  rock  itself,  ap- 
peared to  Hullin.  About  fifty  little  casks  were  ar- 
ranged at  the  bottom  in  shape  of  pyramids,  and,  at 
the  sides,  a  large  number  of  ingots  of  lead  and  bales 
of  tobacco,  which  filled  the  air  with  its  smell.  Marc 
deposited  his  lantern  at  the  entrance  of  the  vault, 
and  regarded  his  hiding-place  with  gratification  and 
a  smile  upon  his  lips. 

"  That  is  what  I  discovered,"  said  he  ;  "  the  cave 
was  empty,  only  in  the  centre  of  it  was  the  carcass  of 
an  animal,  snowy  white, — no  doubt  some  fox,  dead 
of  old  age.  The  rascal  had  known  of  the  passage 
before  I  had.  He  slept  safely  here.  Who  on  earth 
would  have  dreamed  of  pursuing  him?  In  those 
days,  Hullin,  I  was  twelve  years  old.  I  immedi- 
ately thought  that  this  place  might  one  day  be  of  use 
to  me.  I  did  not  know  then  what  use.  But,  later 
on,  when  I  had  begun  my  first  attempts  at  smug- 
gling— at  Landau,  Kehl,  Bale — with  Jacob  Zim- 
mer,  and  during  two  winters  all  the  custom-house 
people  were  after  us,  the  idea  of  my  old  cavern  be- 
gan to  haunt  me  from  morning  till  evening.  I  had 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Hexe-Baizel,  who  was 
then  one  of  the  farm-servants  at  Bois-de-Chenes 


70       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

with  Catherine's  father.  She  brought  me  twenty- 
five  louis  as  marriage-portion,  and  we  settled  our- 
selves in  the  cavern  of  the  Arbousiers." 

Dives  paused  ;  and  Hullin,  who  had  become  very 
thoughtful,  asked  him,—  -"  This  hole,  then,  pleases 
thee  much,  Marc? " 

"  Pleases  me  !  Why,  I  would  not  go  and  live 
in  the  most  beautiful  house  in  Strasbourg  for  two 
thousand  pounds  a  year.  For  twenty-three  years  I 
have  here  hidden  my  wares  :  sugar,  coffee,  powder, 
tobacco,  brandy — everything  goes  in  here.  I  have 
eight  horses  always  travelling." 

"  But  thou  hast  no  happiness." 

"  I  have  no  happiness  !  Dost  thou  think  it  is 
nothing  to  laugh  at  the  gendarmes,  excisemen,  cus- 
tom-house people  ;  to  enrage  them,  to  outdo  them, 
to  hear  on  all  sides,  *  That  rascally  Marc — isn't  he 
a  sharp  one  !  How  he  manages  his  business  !  He 
can  do  as  he  likes  with  the  law  and  its  agents,'  and 
this  and  that.  He  !  "he  !  he  !  I  can  tell  thee,  I 
can,  that  it  is  the  greatest  pleasure  in  the  world. 
And  then  the  people  like  il  :  they  get  everything 
half  price  ;  one  helps  the  poor,  and  keeps  himself 
warm  and  well-off." 

"  Yes,  but  what  dangers  !  " 

"  Bah  !  a  custom  s'-guard  would  never  think  of 
crossing  the  chasm." 


THE   DEPOT  71 

"  I  should  suppose  not,"  thought  Hullin,  remem- 
bering that  he  must  cross  the  precipice  again. 

"  At  the  same  time  thou  art  not  altogether  wrong, 
Jean-Claude.  When  I  first  had  to  enter  this  place 
with  those  little  barrels  on  my  back,  I  streamed  with 
perspiration  ;  now  I  am  accustomed  to  it." 

"And  if  thy  foot  slipped?" 

"  There  would  be  an  end  of  me  !  I  would  as  soon 
die,  spiked  on  a  pine,  as  to  cough  weeks  and  months 
on  a  mattress." 

Dives  then  shed  the  light  of  his  lantern  on  the 
piles  of  kegs  reaching  to  the  top  of  the  vault. 

"  It  is  the  finest  English  powder,"  said  he  ;  "  it 
runs  like  silver  grains  in  the  hand,  and  fires  like  Old 
Nick.  JSTo  need  to  use  much  of  it — a  thimbleful  is 
enough.  And  here  is  lead,  unmixed  with  tin. 
From  this  very  evening,  Hexe-Baizel  shall  begin 
casting  balls.  She  knows  all  about  it,  thou  wilt 
see." 

They  were  beginning  to  return  by  the  path  lead- 
ing to  the  chasm,  when  suddenly  a  confused  mur- 
mur of  words  began  to  fill  the  air.  Marc  blew  out 
his  lantern,  and  they  stopped  still  in  the  darkness. 

"  Some  one  is  walking  up  there,"  the  smuggler 
softly  said.  "  Who  on  earth  has  been  able  to  climb 
up  the  Falkenstein  in  such  snow  ?  " 

They  listened,  holding  their  breath,  and  their 


72       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

eyes  fixed  on  the  ray  of  bluish  light  which  came 
down  through  a  small  chink  into  the  cavern. 
Around  the  cleft  grew  a  few  shrubs,  sparkling  with 
frost  ;  above,  could  be  perceived  the  ridge  of  an  old 
wall.  While  they  were  watching,  keeping  pro- 
found silence,  there  appeared  at  the  foot  of  the  wall 
a  large  shaggy  head  bound  round  with  a  shining  cir- 
cle, a  long  face,  then  a  pointed  red  beard, — the 
whole  standing  out  in  curious  relief  against  the 
white  winter  sky. 

"It  is  l  The  King  of  Diamonds,' "  observed 
Marc,  laughing. 

"  Poor  devil  !  "  said  Hullin,  gravely  ;  "  he  has 
come  to  walk  about  his  castle,  his  bare  feet  on  the 
ice,  and  a  tin  crown  on  his  head  !  But  look  !  he  is 
speaking  :  he  is  giving  orders  to  his  courtiers  ;  he 
points  with  his  sceptre  to  the  north  and  to  the  south 
— all  belongs  to  him  ;  he  is  master  of  the  heavens 
and  earth  !  Poor  devil  !  merely  to  see  him  in 
those  trousers  of  his,  with  his  dog-skin  on  his  back, 
makes  me  cold  all  over." 

"  Yes,  Jean-Claude,  it  produces  on  me  the  effect 
of  a  burgomaster  or  village  mayor,  who  puffs  him- 
self out  like  a  bullfinch,  and  blows  his  cheeks  up, 
saying,  '  I  am  Hans  Aden  ;  I  have  ten  acres  of  fine 
meadows  ;  I  have  two  houses  ;  I  have  a  vineyard, 
an  orchard,  a  garden,  h-m  !  h-m  !  I  have  this  and 


THE  DEPOT  73 

that  ! '  The  next  day  a  little  fit  lays  hold  of  him, 
and — good-evening.  Mad,  mad  !  who  is  not  mad? 
Let  us  go,  Hullin  ;  the  sight  of  this  unfortunate 
who  talks  to  the  winds,  and  of  his  raven  that  croaks 
of  famine,  makes  my  teeth  chatter." 

They  entered  the  passage,  and  the  daylight  almost 
blinded  Hullin.  Happily,  the  great  height  of  his 
companion  standing  in  front  of  him,  prevented  his 
becoming  giddy. 

"  Lean  firmly,"  said  Marc  ;  "  imitate  me  :  the 
right  hand  in  the  hole,  the  right  foot  on  the  step, 
turn  a  bit — here  we  are  !  " 

They  returned  to  the  kitchen,  where  Hexe-Baizel 
told  them  that  Yegof  was  in  the  ruins  of  the  old 
Burg. 

"  We  knew  it,"  replied  Marc  :  "  we  have  just 
seen  him  breathing  the  fresh  air  over  there.  Each 
man  to  his  taste." 

Just  then  the  raven  Hans,  sailing  above  the  abyss, 
passed  the  door  with  a  hoarse  cry  ;  they  heard  the 
frost  crackling  on  the  bushes,  and  the  madman  ap- 
peared upon  the  terrace.  He  was  haggard  ;  and 
after  glancing  toward  the  hearth,  cried  out — "  Marc 
Dives,  clear  out  quickly.  I  warn  thee  I  am  tired  of 
this  disorder.  The  fortifications  of  my  domains 
ought  to  be  free.  I  cannot  allow  vermin  to  lodge 
where  I  am  ;  consequently,  thou  must  make  thy  ar- 


74       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

rangements."  Then  perceiving  Jean-Claude,  his 
face  brightened — "  Thou  here,  Hullin?  "  said  he, 
"  Art  thou  at  length  clear-sighted  enough  to  accept 
the  proposals  that  I  have  condescended  to  make 
thee?  Dost  thou  feel  that  an  alliance  such  as  mine, 
is  the  only  resource  to  preserve  thee  from  the  total 
destruction  of  thy  race?  If  it  is  so,  I  congratulate 
thee  ;  thou  showest  more  sense  than  I  gave  thee 
credit  for." 

Hullin  could  not  help  laughing. 

"  No,  Yegof,  no  !  heaven  has  not  yet  enlightened 
me,  or  I  might  accept  the  honor  thou  wouldst  make 
me.  Besides,  Louise  is  not  old  enough  to  be  mar- 
ried." 

The  madman  became  again  serious  and  gloomy. 
Standing  on  the  edge  of  the  terrace,  his  back  to  the 
abyss,  he  seemed  quite  at  home,  and  his  raven, 
hovering  from  right  to  left,  did  not  trouble  him. 

He  raised  his  sceptre,  frowned,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  Then  this  is  the  second  time,  Hullin,  that  I  have 
made  my  demand,  and  for  the  second  time  thou 
darest  refuse  me.  Now,  I  will  renew  it  once  again 
— once,  dost  thou  hear?  Then  the  fate  shall  be  ac- 
complished !  " 

Hullin,  Marc  Dives,  and  Hexe-Baizel  herself 
burst  into  fits  of  laughter. 

"  He  is  a  great  madman,"  said  Hexe-Baizel. 


THE   DEPOT  75 

"  I  think  them  art  right  there,"  replied  the  smug- 
gler. "  Poor  Yegof  !  decidedly  he  is  out  of  his 
wits.  But  never  mind!  Baizel,  attend  to  me. 
Thou  must  commence  melting  balls  of  all  sizes.  I 
am  going  to  start  for  Switzerland.  In  a  week,  at 
latest,  the  remainder  of  our  ammunition  will  be 
here.  Give  me  my  boots." 

Then  stamping  down  his  heels,  and  twisting 
round  his  neck  a  thick  scarf  of  red  wool,  he  un- 
hooked from  the  wall  one  of  those  dark-green  man- 
tles such  as  herdsmen  wear,  threw  it  over  his  shoul- 
ders, put  on  an  old  worn  hat,  took  a  gourd,  and 
shouted  :  "  Don't  forget  what  I  have  been  telling 
thee,  old  woman,  or  beware  !  Let  us  go,  Jean- 
Claude  !  " 

Hullin  followed  him  on  the  terrace  without  wish- 
ing good-by  to  Hexe-Baizel,  who,  for  her  part,  did 
not  deign  even  to  go  to  the  doorstep  to  see  them  de- 
part. When  they  were  come  to  the  base  of  the 
rock,  Marc  Dives  drew  up  and  said,  "  Thou  art  go- 
ing into  the  mountain  villages,  art  thou  not,  Hul- 
lin?" 

"  Yes  :  that  must  first  be  done.  I  must  warn 
the  wood-cutters,  charcoal-burners,  and  others,  of 
what  is  going  on." 

"  Without  doubt.  Do  not  forget  Materne  of 
Hengst  and  his  two  boys,  Labarbe  of  Dagsburg,  and 


76       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Jerome  of  St.  Quirin.  Tell  them  that  there  will  be 
powder  and  balls  ;  that  we  are  of  the  number,  Cath- 
erine Lefevre,  myself,  Marc  Dives,  and  all  the  hon- 
est folks  of  the  country." 

"  Calm  thyself,  Marc — I  know  my  men." 

"  Then  good-by  for  the  present." 

They  shook  hands  warmly. 

The  smuggler  took  the  path  to  the  right,  toward 
Donon  ;  Hullin  that  to  the  left,  toward  the  Sarre. 

They  were  now  at  some  distance  from  each 
other,  when  Hullin  called  out  to  his  comrade:  "  He  ! 
Marc,  inform  Catherine  Lefevre,  as  thou  passest  by, 
that  all  goes  on  well.  Tell  her  I  am  going  into  the 
mountains." 

The  other  assented  by  a  nod,  and  they  both  con- 
tinued their  different  ways. 


CHAPTER  VI 

AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINEERS 

AN  extraordinary  agitation  reigned  at  that  time 
all  along  the  line  of  the  Vosges:  the  tidings  of  the 
invasion  which  was  approaching  spread  from  vil- 
lage to  village,  and  among  the  farm-houses  and 
woodmen's  cottages  of  the  Hengst  and  the  Nideek. 
The  hawkers,  wagoners,  tinkers,  all  that  floating 
population  which  is  continually  moving  from  the 
mountains  to  the  plains  and  from  the  plains  to  the 
mountains,  brought  every  day,  from  Alsace  and 
the  borders  of  the  Rhine,  many  strange  reports. 
"  The  towns,"  so  these  people  said,  "  were  being 
put  into  a  state  of  defence;  expeditions  were  being 
made  to  provision  them  with  corn  and  meat;  the 
roads  to  Metz,  Nancy,  Huningue,  and  Strasbourg 
were  swarming  with  convoys.  Everywhere  you 
met  powder  and  ammunition  wagons,  cavalry,  in- 
fantry, artillery,  going  to  their  posts.  Marshal 
Victor  still  held  the  route  to  Saverne;  but  the 
bridges  of  the  fortresses  were  already  raised  from 
seven  in  the  evening  to  eight  in  the  morning." 
77 


78       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

No  one  thought  that  all  this  could  bode  any 
good.  Nevertheless,  though  many  were  seriously 
afraid  of  war,  and  though  the  old  women  lifted  up 
their  hands  to  heaven,  crying,  "  Jesus!  Mary!  Jo- 
seph! "  the  greater  number  were  preparing  the 
means  of  defence.  Under  such  circumstances,  Jean- 
Claude  Hullin  was  well  received  by  all. 

The  same  day,  toward  five  in  the  evening,  he 
reached  the  summit  of  the  Ilengst,  and  halted 
with  the  patriarch  of  forest-hunters,  old  Materne. 
lie  spent  the  night  there;  for  in  winter  the  days 
are  short  and  the  roads  difficult.  Materne  prom- 
ised to  keep  watch  over  the  defile  of  the  Zorn,  with 
his  two  sons  Kasper  and  Frantz,  and  to  reply  to 
the  first  signal  which  was  made  from  the  Falken- 
stein. 

On  the  following  day,  Jean-Claude  started  early 
for  Dagsburg,  so  as  to  come  to  an  understanding 
with  his  friend  Labarbe,  the  wood-cutter.  They 
visited  together  the  nearest  hamlets,  reanimating 
the  love  of  country  in  the  people's  hearts;  and  the 
next  day  Labarbe  accompanied  Hullin  into  Christ- 
Nickel's,  the  anabaptist  farmer  of  Painbach — a  sen- 
sible and  respectable  man,  but  who  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  participate  in  their  glorious  en- 
terprise. Christ-Nickel  had  only  one  reply  for  all 
their  observations:  "It  is  well,  it  is  just,  but  the 


AMONG   THE   MOUNTAINEERS  79 

Bible  saith,  '  Put  up  thy  sword  into  its  place.  He 
who  lives  by  the  sword  shall  perish  by  the  sword.'  " 
He  promised  them,  however,  to  pray  for  the  good 
cause:  it  was  all  they  could  obtain. 

They  went  from  there  to  Walsch,  and  had  some 
hearty  shakes  of  the  hand  with  Daniel  Hirsch,  a 
former  marine  gunner,  who  agreed  to  collect  all 
the  people  of  his  district. 

At  this  place  Labarbe  left  Jean-Claude  to 
make  his  way  by  himself. 

For  eight  days  longer  he  beat  about  the  moun- 
tain, from  Soldatenthal,  to  Leonsberg,  Meienthal, 
A bresch wilier,  Voyer,  Loettenbach,  Cirey,  Petit- 
Mont,  and  Saint-Sauveur;  and  on  the  ninth  day 
he  reached  St.  Quirin  and  saw  the  bootmaker  Je- 
rome. They  visited  the  pass  of  Blanru  together; 
after  which  Hullin,  satisfied  with  what  he  had 
done,  took  his  way  to  the  village.  He  had  been 
walking  briskly  for  about  two  hours,  picturing  to 
himself  the  life  of  the  camp, — the  bivouac,  march- 
es and  counter-marches — all  that  life  of  a  soldier 
which  he  had  so  often  regretted,  and  which  he 
now  saw  returning  with  enthusiasm — when  in  the 
far  distance,  amidst  the  shades  of  the  twilight,  he 
perceived  the  hamlet  of  Charmes  in  a  bluish  mist, 
his  little  cottage  sending  forth  a  scarcely  perceptible 
line  of  smoke,  the  small  gardens  surrounded  with 


8o       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

palisades,  the  stone-covered  roofs,  and  to  the  left, 
bordering  the  hill,  the  great  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes,  with  the  saw-mills  of  Valtin  at  the  end  of 
the  now  dark  ravine. 

Then  suddenly,  and  without  knowing  why,  his 
soul  was  filled  with  a  great  sadness. 

He  slackened  his  pace,  and  thought  of  the  calm, 
peaceable  life  he  was  abandoning — perhaps  forever ; 
of  his  little  room,  so  warm  in  the  winter,  and 
cheerful  in  spring  when  he  opened  his  windows  to 
the  breath  of  the  woods;  of  the  tic-tac  of  the  old 
timepiece,  and  then  of  Louise,  his  good  little  Lou- 
ise, spinning  in  the  silence  with  downcast  eyes, 
and  in  the  evenings  singing  some  quaint  strain 
with  her  pure  penetrating  voice  when  they  were 
both  feeling  weary.  These  reflections  laid  such  hold 
of  him  that  the  slightest  objects,  every  instrument 
used  in  his  profession, — the  long  shining  augers, 
the  round-handled  hatchet,  the  mallets,  the  little 
stove,  the  old  closet,  the  platters  of  varnished  wood, 
the  ancient  figure  of  Saint  Michael  nailed  to  the 
wall,  the  old  four-post  bed  at  the  bottom  of  the  al- 
cove, the  stool,  the  trunk,  the  copper  lamp, — all 
these  things  impressed  themselves  on  his  mind  like 
a  living  picture,  and  the  tears  came  into  his  eyes. 

But  it  was  Louise,  his  darling  child,  whom  he 
pitied.  How  she  would  weep,  and  implore  him  to 


AMONG  THE   MOUNTAINEERS  81 

renounce  the  war!  And  how  she  would  hang  on 
his  neck,  saying: — "  Oh!  do  not  leave  me,  Papa 
Jean-Claude!  Oh,  I  will  love  you  so  much!  Oh, 
surely  you  will  not  abandon  me!  " 

And  the  honest  fellow  could  see  the  terror  in 
her  beautiful  eyes — he  could  feel  her  arms  round 
his  neck.  For  a  moment  he  fancied  that  he  might 
deceive  her,  make  her  believe  anything,  no  matter 
what,  and  so  account  for  his  absence  to  her  satisfac- 
tion; but  such  means  were  not  in  accordance  with 
his  character,  and  his  sadness  increased  the  more. 

Arrived  at  the  farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes,  he  went 
in  to  tell  Catherine  Lefevre  that  all  was  going  well, 
and  that  the  mountaineers  were  only  awaiting  the 
signal. 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  after,  Master  Jean-Claude 
came  down  by  the  Houx  road  in  front  of  his  own 
little  house. 

Before  pushing  open  the  creaking  door,  the 
idea  struck  him  to  see  what  Louise  was  about  at 
that  moment.  He  glanced  into  the  little  room 
through  the  window:  Louise  was  standing  by  the 
curtains  of  the  alcove;  she  seemed  very  animated, 
arranging,  folding  and  unfolding  clothes  on  the 
bed.  Her  sweet  face  beamed  with  happiness,  and 
her  large  blue  eyes  sparkled  with  a  sort  of  enthu- 
siasm; she  even  talked  alrnid.  Hullin  listened;  but 


82       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

a  cart  happening  to  pass  at  the  time  in  the 
street,  he  could  hear  nothing.  Making  a  firm  re- 
solve, he  entered,  saying  quietly:  "  Louise,  I  have 
returned." 

Immediately  the  young  girl,  joyous  and  skip- 
ping like  a  deer,  ran  to  embrace  him. 

"  Ah!  it  is  you,  Papa  Jean-Claude!  I  was  ex- 
pecting you.  Mon  Dieu!  mon  Dieu!  how  long 
you  stayed  away!  At  length  you  are  back." 

"  It  was,  my  child,"  replied  the  honest  fellow, 
in  a  more  undecided  tone,  putting  his  stick  behind 
the  door  and  his  hat  on  the  table,  "  it  was  be- 
cause  " 

He  could  say  nothing  else. 

"Yes,  yes,  you  went  to  see  our  friends,"  said 
Louise,  laughing:  "I  know  all  about  it — Mamma 
Lefevre  has  told  me  everything." 

"  What!  thou  knowest?  And  dost  thou  not 
mind?  So  much  the  better,  so  much  the  better! 
it  shows  thy  sense.  And  I,  who  fancied  thou 
wouldst  have  cried !  " 

"Cry!  and  what  for,  papa  Jean-Claude?  Oh, 
I  am  courageous;  you  don't  know  me  yet — go!  " 
She  put  on  a  resolute  air,  which  made  Hullin  smile ; 
but  he  did  not  smile  long  when  she  continued: 
"  We  are  going  to  war — we  are  going  to  fight — we 
are  going  to  pass  up  the  mountainl  " 


AMONG   THE   MOUNTAINEERS  83 

"Hullo!  we  are  going!  we  are  going!"  ex- 
claimed he  in  astonishment. 

"  Certainly.  Then  are  we  not  going?  "  said  she, 
regretfully. 

"  That  is  to  say — I  must  leave  thee  for  a  little 
time,  my  child." 

"Leave  me — oh,  no!  I  go  with  thee;  it  is  all 
agreed  upon.  Look,  see!  my  small  parcel  is  ready, 
and  here  is  yours,  which  I  have  arranged.  Don't 
trouble  yourself,  let  me  alone,  and  you  will  be  sat- 
isfied! " 

Hullin  could  not  get  over  his  stupefaction. 
"  But,  Louise,"  he  exclaimed,  "  thou  canst  not  think 
of  such  a  thing.  Consider:  we  must  pass  nights 
abroad,  and  march  and  run ;  consider  the  cold,  the 
snow,  the  musketry!  It  cannot  be." 

"  Come,"  said  the  young  girl,  in  a  tearful  voice, 
throwing  herself  into  his  arms,  "  do  not  pain  me ! 
You  are  only  making  fun  of  your  little  Louise.  You 
cannot  forsake  her!  " 

"  But  thou  wilt  be  much  safer  here — thou  wilt 
be  warm — thou  wilt  hear  from  us  every  day." 

"  ]^o,  no.  I  will  not — I  must  go  too.  The  cold 
does  not  harm  me.  Only  too  long  have  I  been  shut 
up.  I,  too,  must  breathe  a  little.  Are  not  the 
birds  out  of  doors?  The  robins  are  out  all  the  win- 
ter. Have  I  not  known  what  cold  was  when  I  was 
quite  tiny?  and  hunger  also?  " 


84       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

She  stamped,  and,  for  the  third  time,  putting  her 
arms  round  Jean-Claude's  neck, — "  Come  then, 
Papa  Hullin,"  said  she  softly,  "  Mamma  Lefevre 
said  yes.  "Would  you  be  more  naughty  than  she 
was  ?  Ah,  if  you  only  knew  how  much  I  love  you !  " 

The  good  man  had  sat  down  and  turned  away 
his  head,  so  as  not  to  yield,  and  did  not  allow  him- 
self to  be  embraced. 

"  Oh,  how  naughty  you  are  to-day,  Papa  Jean- 
Claude!" 

"  It  is  for  thy  sase,  my  child." 

"  Well,  all  the  worse.  I  will  run  away  after 
you.  Cold — what  is  cold?  And  if  you  are  wound- 
ed— if  you  ask  to  see  your  little  Louise  for  the  last 
time,  and  she  is  not  there — near  you,  to  take  care 
of  you,  and  love  you  to  the  end — oh,  you  must 
think  me  very  cold-hearted." 

She  sobbed,  and  Hullin  could  not  stand  it  any 
longer. 

"  Is  it  true  that  Mamma  Lefevre  consents?  " 

"  Oh,  yes — oh,  yes — she  told  me  so.  She  said 
to  me, — '  Try  and  make  Papa  Jean-Claude  decide. 
I  am  willing,  and  quite  satisfied.'  " 

"  Well,  what  can  I  do  against  two  of  you.  Thou 
shalt  come  with  us;  it  is  quite  decided." 

She  gave  a  scream  of  delight  which  ran  through 
the  cottage, — "  Oh,  how  kind  you  are!  " 


AMONG   THE   MOUNTAINEERS  85 

And  with  one  rub  she  wiped  all  her  tears  away, 
— "  We  are  going  to  be  off,  to  take  to  the  woods 
and  to  make  war." 

"  Ah,"  said  Hullin,  shaking  his  head,  "  I  see  it 
now;  thou  art  always  the  little  gypsy.  As  soon  try 
to  tame  a  swallow." 

Then  making  her  sit  on  his  knees: — "  Louise, 
it  is  now  twelve  years  since  I  found  thee  in  the 
snow:  thou  wast  blue,  poor  little  one.  And  when 
we  were  in  the  cottage,  near  a  good  fire,  and  thou 
wert  slowly  reviving,  the  first  thing  thou  didst  was 
to  smile  at  me.  And  since  that  time  thy  will  has 
always  been  mine.  With  that  smile  thou  hast  led 
me  wherever  thou  wouldst." 

Then  Louise  began  again  to  smile  at  him,  and 
they  embraced  each  other.  "  Now  we  will  look  at 
the  packages,"  he  said,  sighing.  "  Are  they  well 
made,  I  wonder? " 

He  approached  the  bed,  and  was  surprised  to 
see  his  warmest  clothes,  his  flannel-waistcoats,  all 
well  brushed,  folded,  and  packed ;  and  Louise's  bun- 
dle, with  her  best  dresses,  petticoats,  and  stout  shoes, 
in  nice  order.  At  last  he  could  not  help  laughing 
and  crying  out — "  O  gypsy,  gypsy!  you  are  the  one 
for  making  fine  bundles,  and  going  away  without 
ever  turning  the  head." 

Louise  smiled.    "  Are  you  satisfied?  " 


86       THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  I  suppose  I  must  be.  But  during  all  this  piece 
of  work,  I  will  venture  to  say  thou  hast  never 
thought  of  preparing  my  supper." 

"  Oh,  it  will  soon  be  ready.  I  did  not  know  you 
would  return  this  evening,  Papa  Jean-Claude." 

"  That  is  true,  my  child.  Bring  me  something 
—  no  matter  what — quickly,  for  I  am  hungry. 
Meanwhile  I  shall  smoke  a  pipe." 

"  Yes,  that's  it;   smoke  a  pipe." 

He  sat  down  on  the  side  of  the  bench  and  struck 
the  tinder-box  quite  dreamily.  Louise  rushed  right 
and  left  like  a  sprite,  seeing  to  the  fire,  breaking 
the  eggs,  and  turning  out  an  omelette  with  surpris- 
ing celerity.  Never  had  she  appeared  so  lively, 
smiling,  and  pretty.  Hullin,  his  elbow  on  the  table 
and  his  face  in  his  hand,  watched  her  gravely,  think- 
ing how  much  will,  firmness,  and  resolution  there 
was  in  this  girl — as  light  as  a  fairy,  yet  determined 
as  a  hussar.  In  a  few  seconds  she  served  him  with 
the  omelette  on  a  large  china  plate,  with  bread,  and 
the  glass  and  bottle. 

"  There,  Papa  Jean-Claude,  be  hungry  no  lon- 
ger." She  observed  him  eating  with  a  look  of  ten- 
derness. 

The  flame  sprang  up  in  the  stove,  lighting  clear- 
ly the  low  beams,  the  wooden  stair  in  the  shadow, 
the  bed  at  the  end  of  the  alcove,  the  whole  of  the 


AMONG   THE   MOUNTAINEERS  87 

abode,  so  often  cheered  by  the  joyous  humor  of  the 
shoemaker,  the  little  songs  of  his  daughter,  and  the 
industry  of  both.  And  all  this  Louise  was  leaving 
without  any  hesitation:  she  cared  only  for  the 
woods,  the  snow-covered  paths,  and  the  endless 
mountains,  reaching  from  the  village  into  Switzer- 
land, and  even  beyond.  Ah,  Master  Jean-Claude 
had  reason  to  cry  "  gypsy,  gypsy !  "  The  swal- 
low cannot  be  tamed:  it  needs  the  open  air,  the 
broad  sky — continual  motion.  Neither  storms,  nor 
wind,  nor  rain  in  torrents  frighten  it,  when  the 
hour  of  its  departure  is  at  hand.  It  has  only  one 
thought,  one  desire,  one  cry — "Let  us  away!  Let 
us  away." 

The  meal  finished,  Hullin  rose  and  said  to  his 
daughter,  "  I  am  tired,  my  child;  kiss  me,  and  let 
us  go  to  bed." 

"  Yes;  but  do  not  forget  to  awake  me,  Papa 
Jean-Claude,  if  you  start  before  daybreak." 

"  Do  not  trouble  thyself.  It  is  understood  thou 
shalt  come  with  us."  And  seeing  her  mount  the 
stair  and  disappear  in  the  garret :  "  Isn't  she  afraid 
of  stopping  in  the  nest,  that's  all!  "  said  he  to  him- 
self. 

The  silence  was  great  outdoors.  Eleven  o'clock 
had  struck  from  the  village  church.  The  good  man 
was  sitting  down  to  take  off  his  boots,  when  he 


88       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

caught  sight  of  his  musket  suspended  above  the 
door:  he  took  it  down,  wiped  it,  and  drew  the  trig- 
ger. His  whole  soul  was  intent  on  the  business  in 
hand. 

"  It  is  all  right,"  he  murmured:  and  then  in  a 
grave  tone:  "  It  is  curious.  .  .  .  The  last  time  I 
held  it  ...  at  Marengo  .  .  .  was  fourteen  years 
ago,  and  yet  it  seems  like  yesterday!  " 

Suddenly  the  hardened  snow  cracked  under  a 
quick  footstep.  He  listened:  "  Some  one!  "  At 
the  same  time  two  little  sharp  taps  resounded 
on  the  panes.  He  ran  to  the  window  and  opened 
it.  The  head  of  Marc  Dives,  with  his  broad 
hat  stiff  with  the  frost,  bent  forward  from  the 
darkness. 

"  Well,  Marc,  what  news?  " 

"  Hast  thou  warned  the  mountaineers — Materne, 
Jerome,  Labarbe? " 

"  Yes,  all." 

"  It  was  time:  the  enemy  has  passed." 

"Passed?" 

"  Yes,  along  the  whole  line.  I  have  walked 
fifteen  leagues  through  the  snow  since  this  morning 
to  announce  it  to  thee." 

"  Good;  the  signal  must  be  given:  a  great  fire 
on  the  Falkenstein." 

Hullin  was  very  pale.     He  put  on  his  boots. 


AMONG  THE   MOUNTAINEERS  89 

Two  minutes  later,  his  large  blouse  on  his  shoulders 
and  his  stick  in  his  hand,  he  softly  opened  the  door, 
and  with  long  strides  followed  Mark  Dives  on  the 
way  to  the  Falkenstein. 


CHAPTER  VII 

RISING  OF  THE  PARTISANS 

FROM  midnight  till  six  in  the  morning  a  flame 
shone  through  the  darkness  on  the  summit  of  the 
.Palkenstein,  and  the  whole  mountain  was  on  the 
alert. 

All  the  friends  of  Hullin,  Marc  Dives,  and  of 
Mother  Lefevre,  their  long  gaiters  on  their  legs  and 
old  muskets  on  their  shoulders,  journeyed,  through 
the  silent  woods,  toward  the  gorges  of  the  Valtin. 
The  thought  of  the  enemy  traversing  the  plains  of 
Alsace  to  surprise  the  passes,  was  present  to  the 
minds  of  all.  The  tocsins  of  Dagsburg,  Abresch- 
willer,  Walsch,  and  St.  Quirin,  and  of  all  the  other 
villages,  began  to  call  the  defenders  of  the  country 
to  arms. 

Now-you  must  picture  to  yourself  the  Jagerthal, 
at  the  foot  of  the  old  castle,  in  unusually  snowy 
weather,  at  that  early  hour  when  the  clumps  of  trees 
begin  to  creep  out  of  the  shadow,  and  when  the 
extreme  cold  of  night  softens  at  the  approach  of 
90 


RISING   OF   THE   PARTISANS  91 

day.  Picture,  also,  to  yourself  the  old  Sawyerie, 
with  its  flat  roof,  its  heavy  wheel  burdened  with 
icicles,  the  low  interior  dimly  lit  up  by  a  pine-wood 
fire,  whose  blaze  fades  away  in  the  glimmer  of  the 
coming  dawn;  and,  around  the  fire,  fur  bonnets, 
caps,  and  black  profiles,  gazing  one  over  the  other, 
and  squeezing  close  together  like  a  wall;  and  far- 
ther on,  in  the  woods,  more  fires  lighting  up  groups 
of  men  and  women  squatting  in  the  snow. 

The  agitation  began  to  decrease.  As  the  sky 
became  grayer  the  people  recognized  each  other. 

"  Ah,  it  is  Cousin  Daniel  of  Soldatenthal.  You 
have  come  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  as  you  see,  Heinrich,  with  my  wife  also." 

"  What,  Cousin  Nanette!    Where  is  she?  " 

"  Down  there,  near  the  old  oak,  by  Uncle  Hans' 
fire." 

They  shook  hands.  Many  could  be  heard  yawn- 
ing loudly:  others  threw  on  the  fire  bits  of  planks. 
The  gourds  went  round;  some  retired  from  the 
circles  to  make  room  for  their  shivering  neighbors. 
Meanwhile  the  crowd  began  to  grow  impatient. 

"  Ah,"  cried  some,  "  we  did  not  come  here  only 
to  get  our  feet  warmed.  It  is  time  to  see  and  come 
to  an  understanding." 

"  Yes,  yes!  Let  them  hold  a  council,  and  name 
the  chiefs." 


92 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN 


"  No;  everybody  is  not  yet  arrived.  See,  there 
are  more  coming  from  Dagsburg  and  St.  Quirin." 

Indeed,  the  lighter  it  became,  the  more  people 
could  be  seen  hastening  along  all  the  mountain 
paths.  At  that  time  there  must  have  been  many 
hundreds  of  men  in  the  valley  —  wood-cutters,  char- 
coal-burners, raftsmen  —  without  counting  the  wom- 
en and  children. 

Nothing  could  be  more  picturesque  than  that 
gathering  in  the  midst  of  the  snows,  in  the  depths 
of  the  defile,  closed  in  as  it  was  by  tall  pines  losing 
themselves  in  the  clouds.  To  the  right,  the  val- 
leys opening  away  into  each  other  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach;  to  the  left,  the  ruins  of  the  Falken- 
stein  rising  into  the  sky.  From  a  distance  one 
would  have  said  it  was  a  flock  of  cranes  settled  on 
the  ice;  but,  nearer,  these  hardy  men  could  be  dis- 
tinguished, with  stiff  beards  bristling  like  a  boar, 
gloomy  fierce  eyes,  broad  square  shoulders,  and 
horny  hands.  Some  few,  taller  than  the  rest,  be- 
longed to  the  fiery  race  of  red  men,  white-skinned, 
and  hairy  to  the  tips  of  their  fingers,  with  strength 
enough  to  pull  an  oak  up  by  the  roots.  Among 
this  number  was  old  Materne  of  Hengst,  with  his 
two  sons  Kasper  and  Frantz.  These  sturdy  fellows 

—  all  three  armed  with  little  rifles  from  Innspriick 

—  having  blue  cloth  gaiters  with  leathern  buttons 


RISING   OF  THE   PARTISANS  93 

reaching  above  their  knees,  their  loins  girdled  with 
goat-skin,  and  their  felt  hats  coming  down  low  over 
their  necks — did  not  deign  to  approach  the  fire. 
For  an  hour  they  had  been  sitting  on  a  trunk  by 
the  river-side,  on  the  watch,  with  their  feet  in  the 
snow.  From  time  to  time  the  old  man  would  say 
to  his  sons,  "  What  do  they  shiver  for  over  there? 
I  never  knew  a  milder  night  for  the  season:  it  is 
nothing — the  rivers  are  not  even  touched." 

All  the  forest-hunters  of  the  country  passing  by 
came  to  shake  hands  with  them,  then  congregated 
round  them  and  formed  a  circle  apart.  These  fel- 
lows spoke  little,  being  used  to  silence  for  whole 
days  and  nights,  for  fear  of  frightening  away  their 
game. 

Marc  Dives,  standing  in  the  middle  of  another 
group,  a  head  taller  than  any  of  them,  spoke  and 
gesticulated — pointing  now  to  one  part  of  the 
mountain,  now  to  another.  In  front  of  him  was 
the  old  herdsman  Lagarmitte,  with  his  large  gray 
smock,  a  long  bark  trumpet  on  his  shoulder,  and 
his  dog  at  his  feet.  He  listened  to  the  smuggler, 
open-mouth,  and  kept  on  bowing  his  head.  The 
others  all  seemed  attentive:  they  were  composed 
of  charcoal-burners  and  wood-carriers,  with  whom 
the  smuggler  had  daily  intercourse. 

Between  the  saw-mills  and  the  first  fire,  on  the 


94       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

bridge  over  the  dam,  sat  the  bootmaker  Jerome  of 
St.  Quirin — a  man  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  years  of 
age,  with  a  long  brown  face,  hollow  eyes,  big  nose 
— his  ears  covered  with  a  badger-skin  cap — and  a 
yellow  beard  reaching  to  his  waist  in  a  peak.  His 
hands,  enveloped  in  great  green  woollen  gloves, 
were  clasped  over  an  immense  stick  of  knotty  ser- 
vice-tree. He  wore  a  long  sackcloth  hood;  and 
might  easily  have  been  taken  for  a  hermit.  At  ev- 
ery rumor  that  arose,  Father  Jerome  would  slowly 
turn  his  head,  and  try  to  catch  what  it  was,  frown- 
ing. 

Jean  Labarbe,  grasping  his  axe,  remained  im- 
movable. He  was  a  white-faced  man,  with  an  aqui- 
line nose  and  thin  lips.  He  exercised  great  influ- 
ence over  the  men  of  Dagsburg,  owing  to  his  reso- 
lution and  the  clearness  of  his  ideas.  When  they 
shouted  around  him,  "We  must  deliberate;  we 
cannot  stay  here  doing  nothing,"  he  simply  content- 
ed himself  with  saying,  "  Let  us  wait:  Hullin  has 
not  arrived,  nor  Catherine  Lefevre.  There  is  no 
hurry."  Everybody  then  was  silenced,  and  looked 
impatiently  toward  the  path  from  Charmes. 

The  sawyer  Piorette — a  small,  brisk,  thin,  ener- 
getic man,  whose  black  eyebrows  met  above  his  eyes 
— stood  on  the  threshold  of  his  hut,  with  his  pipe 
between  his  teeth,  contemplating  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  this  scene. 


RISING   OF   THE   PARTISANS  95 

Meanwhile,  the  impatience  increased  every  mo- 
ment. Some  village  mayors — in  square-cut  coats 
and  three-cornered  hats — advanced  in  the  direction 
of  the  saw-mills,  calling  on  their  communes  to  come 
and  decide  what  was  to  be  done.  Most  fortunately, 
at  last  Catherine  Lefevre's  cart  appeared,  and  a 
thousand  enthusiastic  shouts  arose  on  all  sides: 

"  There  they  are!  they  come!" 

Old  Materne  gravely  mounted  on  a  trunk  and 
quietly  descended,  saying,  "  It  is  they." 

Great  agitation  showed  itself.  The  farthest 
groups  gathered  together  in  one  crowd.  A  sort  of 
impatient  shiver  passed  over  the  mass.  Scarcely 
has  the  old  farmer's  wife  become  visible,  whip  in 
hand,  on  her  straw  box  with  little  Louise,  than 
from  all  parts  came  cries  of  "  Vive  la  France !  Vive 
la  mere  Catherine !  " 

Hullin,  who  had  remained  behind,  his  broad  hat 
pushed  back,  his  musket  slung  across  his  shoulder, 
was  now  crossing  the  meadow  of  Eichmath,  dis- 
tributing vigorous  shakes  of  the  hand:  "  Good- 
day,  Daniel;  good-day,  Colon.  Good-day — good- 
day!" 

"  Ah!  it  is  going  to  be  warm,  Hullin." 

"  Yes — yes ;  we  are  going  to  hear  the  chestnuts 
popping  this  winter.  Good-day,  my  old  Jerome! 
We  have  serious  business  on  hand." 


96       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    181^ 

"  Yes,  Jean-Claude.  "We  must  hope  to  pull 
through  it  by  the  grace  of  God." 

Catherine,  on  arriving  at  the  saw-works,  told 
Labarbe  to  set  on  the  ground  a  keg  of  brandy  which 
she  had  brought  away  from  the  farm,  and  to  get 
a  jug  from  the  sawyer's  cottage. 

Soon  after,  Hullin,  coming  up  to  the  fire,  met 
Materne  and  his  two  sons. 

"  You  have  come  late,"  said  the  old  hunter. 

"Ah!  yes.  What  was  to  be  done?  I  had  to 
descend  the  Falkenstein,  get  my  gun,  and  start  the 
women.  But  as  we  are  now  here,  let  us  lose  no 
more  time;  Lagarmitte,  blow  thy  horn,  so  that  all 
the  men  may  assemble.  The  first  thing  is  to  ap- 
point the  leaders." 

Lagarmitte  blew  his  long  trumpet,  his  cheeks 
puffed  out  to  his  ears:  then  those  who  were  still 
on  the  hill-sides  or  paths  hastened  their  pace  to  be 
in  time.  Soon  all  those  brave  fellows  were  assem- 
bled in  front  of  the  saw-works.  Hullin  got  up  on 
a  pile  of  tree-trunks,  and  looking  seriously  upon  the 
crowd,  said,  amidst  deep  silence :  "  The  enemy 
crossed  the  Rhine  the  day  before  yesterday:  they 
are  marching  over  the  mountain  into  Lorraine: 
Strasbourg  and  Huningue  are  blockaded.  We  may 
expect  to  see  the  Germans  and  Prussians  in  three 
or  four  days." 


THERE  WAS  A  GENERAL  SHOUT  OF   "LONG  LIVE  FRANCE  1 " 


RISING   OF  THE   PARTISANS  97 

There  was  a  loud  shout  of  "  Vive  la  France!  " 

"  Yes,  vive  la  France!  "  continued  Hullin;  "  for 
if  the  allies  enter  Paris  they  can  do  what  they 
choose;  they  can  re-establish  statute-labor,  tithes, 
convents,  monopolies,  and  the  gallows.  If  you  wish 
to  see  that  over  again,  you  have  only  to  let  them 
pass." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  depict  the  savage  fierce- 
ness of  the  audience  at  that  moment. 

"  That  is  what  I  had  to  tell  you,"  cried  Hullin, 
quite  white.  "  Since  you  are  here,  it  can  only  be 
to  fight." 

"  Yes,  yes." 

"  It  is  well;  but  listen  to  me.  I  will  be  open 
with  you.  Among  you  are  fathers  of  families. 
We  shall  be  one  against  ten,  against  fifty :  we  must 
expect  to  perish.  So  let  the  men  who  have  not 
reflected  on  it,  who  feel  they  have  not  heart  to  do 
their  duty  to  the  end,  go — none  will  take  notice  of 
them.  Each  man  is  free." 

Then  he  paused  and  looked  around  him.  Every- 
body remained  stationary:  then  with  a  firmer  voice, 
he  concluded  thus:  "  No  one  goes  away;  you  are 
all,  all  resolved  to  fight.  Well,  I  am  rejoiced  to 
see  there  is  not  one  coward  among  us.  Now  a 
leader  must  be  chosen.  In  great  dangers,  the  first 
thing  is  order  and  discipline.  The  leader  you  are 
7 


98       THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

going  to  name  will  have  the  right  of  commanding 
and  being  obeyed.  So  reflect  seriously,  for  on  that 
man  will  hang  the  fate  of  you  all." 

So  saying,  Jean-Claude  descended  from  the  tree- 
trunk,  and  the  agitation  became  extreme.  Every 
village  deliberated  apart  by  itself — every  mayor 
proposed  his  friend — and  the  hours  wore  on.  Cath- 
erine Lefevre  was  burning  with  impatience.  At 
length  she  could  no  longer  contain  herself,  and 
standing  up  on  her  bench,  signed  that  she  was  go- 
ing to  speak. 

Catherine  was  held  in  great  esteem.  At  first 
only  a  few,  then  a  larger  number  approached  to 
know  what  she  wished  to  communicate. 

"  My  friends,"  said  she,  "  we  are  losing  time. 
"What  do  you  wish  for?  A  trustworthy  man,  is  it 
not  so?  a  soldier — a  man  who  has  seen  service,  and 
who  knows  how  to  profit  by  our  positions?  Well, 
why  do  you  not  choose  Hullin?  Can  any  one 
find  a  better?  If  so,  let  him  speak,  and  we  will 
decide.  I  propose  Jean-Claude  Hullin.  He!  do 
you  hear — over  there?  If  this  continues,  the  Aus- 
trians  will  have  arrived  before  a  leader  has  been 
decided  on." 

«  YeSj_ves!  Hullin!  "  shouted  Labarbe,  Dives, 
Jerome,  and  several  others.  "  Let  us  see  how  many 
are  for  and  against  him." 


RISING   OF   THE   PARTISANS  99 

Then  Marc  Dives,  clambering  on  to  the  trunks, 
cried  out  in  a  voice  like  thunder:  "  Those  who  do 
not  want  Jean-Claude  Ilullin  for  leader  must  lift 
up  their  hands." 

Xot  one  hand  was  uplifted. 

"  Those  who  want  Jean-Claude  Hullin  for  their 
leader  must  raise  their  hands." 

Every  hand  was  put  up. 

"  Jean-Claude,"  said  the  smuggler,  "  mount  up 
here,  look — they  have  chosen  you  for  their  leader." 

Master  Jean-Claude  having  done  so,  saw  he 
was  named,  and  said  immediately  in  a  stern  voice: 
"Good!  you  name  me  to  be  your  chief .  I  accept! 
Let  Materne  the  elder,  Labarbe  of  Dagsburg,  Je- 
rome of  St.  Quirin,  Marc  Dives,  Piorette  the  saw- 
yer, and  Catherine  Lefevre,  come  into  the  saw- 
works.  We  are  going  to  take  counsel.  In  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  or  twenty  minutes,  I  shall  give  my 
orders.  Meanwhile,  each  village  must  put  two  men 
under  the  orders  of  Marc  Dives,  to  fetch  powder 
and  ball  from  the  Falkenstein." 


CHAPTER  VHI 

THE  LEADER 

THE  persons  indicated  by  Jean-Claude  Hullin 
met  together  in  the  shed  of  the  Sawyerie,  before 
the  great  fireplace;  a  species  of  good-humor  beam- 
ing on  their  faces. 

"  For  twenty  years  have  I  heard  speak  of  the 
Russians,  Austrians,  and  Cossacks,"  said  old  Ma- 
terne,  smiling,  "  and  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  see  a 
few  within  reach  of  my  musket:  it  gives  a  change 
to  one's  ideas." 

"Yes,"  replied  Labarbe,  "we  shall  see  queer 
things;  the  little  children  of  the  mountains  will 
be  able  to  relate  something  of  what  their  fathers 
and  grandfathers  did!  And  the  old  women,  of  an 
evening — won't  they  tell  long  tales  in  fifty  years' 
time?" 

"  Comrades,"  said  Hullin,  "  you  know  the 
whole  country:  you  have  the  mountain  under  your 
eyes  from  Thann  to  Wissembourg.  You  know 
that  the  great  roads,  imperial  roads — traverse  Al- 


THE   LEADER  IOI 

sace  and  the  Vosges.  They  both  commence  at  Bale: 
one  runs  along  the  Rhine  to  Strasbourg,  from 
whence  it  ascends  to  Saverne  and  enters  Lorraine. 
Hmiingue,  Neuf-Brisach,  Strasbourg,  and  Phals- 
bourg  defend  it.  The  other  turns  to  the  left  and 
passes  by  Schlestadt:  at  Schlestadt  it  enters  the 
mountain  and  reaches  Saint-Die,  Raon-1'Etape, 
Baccarat,  and  Luneville.  The  enemy  will  want  to 
force  these  two  roads  first, — being  the  best  for  cav- 
alry, artillery,  and  baggage, — but  as  they  are  de- 
fended, we  need  not  trouble  ourselves  about  them. 
If  the  allies  besiege  the  fortresses — which  would 
lengthen  the  campaign — we  have  nothing  to  fear; 
but  it  is  not  probable  they  will  do  so.  After  hav- 
ing summoned  Huningue  to  surrender,  Belfort, 
Schlestadt,  Strasbourg,  and  Phalsbourg,  on  this 
side  the  Vosges — Bitsche,  Lutzelstein,  and  Sarre- 
briick  on  the  other — I  imagine  they  will  fall  upon 
us.  Now  attend  to  me.  Between  Phalsbourg 
and  Saint-Die,  there  are  several  defiles  for  the  in- 
fantry; but  there  is  only  one  way  practicable  for 
cannon:  this  is  the  road  from  Strasbourg  to  Raon- 
les-Leaux  by  Urmatt,  Mutzig,  Lutzelhouse,  Phra- 
moncl,  Grandfontaine.  Once  masters  of  this  pas- 
sage, the  allies  will  be  able  to  come  out  on  Lorraine. 
This  road  passes  the  Donon,  two  leagues  from  here, 
on  our  right.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  make 


102     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

a  firm  stand  there,  in  the  most  favorable  part  for 
defence,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  plateau  of  the  moun- 
tain; to  intersect  it,  to  break  down  the  bridges, 
and  to  erect  solid  breastworks  across  it.  A  few  hun- 
dreds of  great  trees  across  the  road  with  all  their 
branches  are  worth  as  much  as  ramparts.  They  are 
the  best  ambuscades:  one  is  well  sheltered  behind 
them  and  can  see  everything  coming.  Those  large 
trees  hold  like  death.  They  must  be  taken  away 
piece  by  piece;  bridges  cannot  be  thrown  over  them: 
— in  fact  it  is  the  best  thing  to  be  done.  All  that, 
comrades,  must  be  accomplished  to-morrow  even- 
ing, or  next  day  at  the  latest.  I  charge  myself 
with  it.  But  it  is  not  sufficient  to  occupy  a  position 
and  put  it  in  a  good  state  of  defence:  it  must  be 
so  managed  that  the  enemy  shall  not  be  able  to 
turn  it." 

"  I  was  just  thinking  of  that,"  said  Materne.. 
"  Once  in  the  valley  of  Bruche,  the  Germans  can 
march  with  their  infantry  into  the  hills  of  Haslach 
and  turn  our  left.  Nothing  can  prevent  their  try- 
ing the  same  manoeuvre  on  our  right,  if  they  reach 
Eaon-1'Etape." 

"  Yes,  but  to  take  these  ideas  out  of  their  heads, 
we  have  a  very  simple  thing  to  do:  it  is  to  occupy 
the  defiles  of  the  Zorn  and  the  Sarre  on  our  left, 
and  that  of  Blanru  on  our  right.  One  can  only 


THE   LEADER  '  103 

keep  a  defile  by  holding  the  heights;  that  is  why 
Piorette  must  place  himself  with  a  hundred  men 
on  the  side  of  Raon-les-Leaux;  Jerome  on  the 
Grosmaun,  with  the  same  number,  to  close  the 
valley  of  the  Sarre;  and  Labarbe,  at  the  head  of 
the  remainder  on  the  great  slopes  to  watch  over 
the  hills  of  Haslach.  You  must  choose  your  men 
from  those  of  the  nearest  villages.  The  women 
ought  not  to  have  a  long  distance  to  carry  provi- 
sions; and  then  the  wounded  will  be  nearer  their 
homes,  which  must  also  be  thought  of.  There  is 
all  I  have  to  say  to  you  just  now.  The  chiefs  of 
posts  must  take  care  to  send  me  every  day  on  the 
Donon,  where  I  shall  establish  our  head-quarters 
this  evening,  a  good  walker,  to  inform  me  of  what 
happens,  and  to  receive  the  countersign.  We  shall 
also  organize  a  reserve ;  but  as  we  must  make  haste, 
we  will  speak  of  that  when  you  are  all  in  position, 
and  there  is  no  longer  cause  to  fear  a  surprise  from 
the  enemy." 

"  And  I,"  exclaimed  Marc  Dives,  "  I  shall  have 
nothing  to  do  then?  I  am  to  remain  with  my  arms 
folded,  watching  the  others  fight?  " 

"  Thou — thou  art  to  survey  the  transport  of  am- 
munition. !N~one  of  us  know  how  to  treat  the  pow- 
der as  thou  dost,  to  preserve  it  from  fire  and  damp, 
to  melt  the  balls,  and  make  cartridges." 


!04     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  But  it  is  woman's  work,  that  is,"  exclaimed 
the  smuggler.  "  Hexe-Baizel  could  do  it  as  well  as 
I.  What!  am  I  not  even  to  fire  once?  " 

"  Softly,  Marc,"  replied  Hullin,  laughing;  "  oc- 
casions will  not  be  wanting.  In  the  first  place,  the 
Falkenstein  is  the  centre  of  our  line;  it  is  our  arse- 
nal and  our  retreating  place  in  case  of  misfortune. 
The  enemy  will  know  through  his  spies  that  our 
convoys  come  from  there ;  he  will  try,  probably,  to 
take  them:  the  balls  and  bayonet-thrusts  will  come 
in  thy  way.  Besides,  to  have  thee  in  safety  will  be 
all  the  better,  for  thy  cellars  and  caves  must  not 
be  confided  to  the  first  comer.  But  if  thou  really 
wouldst  like " 

"  !N"o,"  said  the  smuggler,  who  had  been  touched 
by  Hullin's  reference  to  his  caves — "  no!  all  things 
considered,  I  believe  thou  art  right,  Jean-Claude. 
I  have  my  men — they  are  well  armed — we  will 
defend  the  Falkenstein;  and  if  the  opportunity  of 
firing  a  shot  should  present  itself,  I  shall  be  all  the 
freer." 

"  Then  that  is  a  decided  and  well-understood 
business? "  demanded  Hullin. 

"  Yes,  yes,  it  is  decided." 

"  Well,  comrades,"  said  the  worthy  fellow,  joy- 
ously, "  let  us  warm  ourselves  with  a  few  good 
glasses  of  wine.  It  is  ten  o'clock;  let  each  one  re- 


THE    LEADER 


105 


turn  to  his  village,  and  make  his  preparations.  To- 
morrow morning  all  the  defiles  must  be  vigorously 
occupied." 

They  quitted  the  shed,  and  Hullin,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  his  followers,  named  Labarbe,  Jerome,  and 
Piorette  chiefs  of  the  defiles:  then  he  told  those  of 
the  Sarre  to  assemble  as  soon  as  possible  near  the 
farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes,  with  axes,  mattocks,  and 
muskets.  "  We  shall  leave  at  two  o'clock,  and  en- 
camp on  the  Donon  across  the  route,"  said  he  to 
them.  "  To-morrow,  at  dawn,  we  will  begin  the 
breastworks." 

He  retained  Materne  and  his  two  sons  Frantz 
and  Kasper,  announcing  to  them  that  the  battle 
would  commence  undoubtedly  on  the  Donon,  and 
that  good  shots  would  be  wanted  on  that  side, 
which  gave  them  pleasure. 

Mistress  Lefevre  had  never  looked  happier  than 
when  she  got  into  her  cart  again,  and,  kissing 
Louise,  said  in  her  ear: — "  All  goes  well.  Jean- 
Claude  is  a  man:  he  sees  everything;  he  draws 
people  to  him.  I  have  known  him  forty  years,  yet 
he  surprises  even  me."  Then  turning  round 
— "  Jean-Claude,"  cried  she,  "  we  have  a  ham  wait- 
ing for  us  down  there  and  a  few  old  bottles,  which 
the  Germans  shall  not  drink." 

"]STo,  Catherine,  they  shall  not  drink  them. 
Go  on^  I  am  coming." 


io6     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

But  just  as  they  were  starting,  and  when  already 
a  number  of  mountaineers  were  climbing  the  hill- 
sides to  regain  their  villages,  quite  in  the  distance, 
on  the  path  of  Trois-Fontaines,  appeared  a  large 
thin  man  on  a  big  roan  cob,  with  a  flat-brimmed 
cap  of  rabbit-skin  covering  the  whole  back  of  his 
neck:  a  great  sheep-dog  with  a  black  shaggy  coat 
bounded  along  near  him;  and  the  ends  of  his  enor- 
mous surtout  flapped  behind  him  like  wings.  Every 
one  cried  out, — "  It  is  Doctor  Lorquin  from  the 
plain — the  one  who  attends  poor  people  gratis.  He 
comes  with  his  dog  Pluto.  He  is  a  good  man." 

In  fact  he  it  was.  He  galloped  on,  shouting, 
"Halt!  stop!  halt!"  And  his  red  face,  sharp  eyes, 
red-brown  beard,  broad  shoulders,  great  horse  and 
dog,  all  cleaved  the  air  and  grew  upon  the  view. 
In  two  seconds  he  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain, crossed  the  meadow,  and  appeared  at  the 
bridge,  before  the  shed.  Instantly,  in  breathless 
tones,  he  began  to  say: — "  Ah!  the  cunning  rogues 
who  want  to  enter  on  a  campaign  without  me ;  they 
shall  pay  for  it!  "  And  tapping  a  small  box  he 
carried  at  his  crupper, — "  Listen,  my  good  fellows, 
listen!  I  have  something  inside  there  of  which 
you  shall  give  me  an  account:  every  description  of 
knife,  large,  small,  round  and  pointed,  to  take  from 
you  the  balls  and  shot  of  all  kinds  which  you  are 


DOCTOR  LORQUIN. 


THE   LEADER  107 

going  to  be  regaled  with!  "  "Whereupon  he  burst 
out  laughing,  and  all  those  near  him  felt  a  cold 
shiver  in  all  their  veins. 

Having  delivered  himself  of  this  pleasantry,  Doc- 
tor Lorquin  continued  in  a  graver  tone: — "  Hullin, 
T  must  pull  jour  ears!  What,  when  the  country 
has  to  be  defended,  you  forget  me!  others  have  to 
warn  me.  It  appears  to  me,  however,  that  a  doctor 
will  not  be  out  of  the  way  here.  I  must  call  you 
to  account." 

"  Pardon  me,  doctor,  I  was  wrong,"  said  Hul- 
lin, squeezing  his  hand.  "  During  the  last  week  so 
many  things  have  happened !  One  does  not  always 
think  of  everything;  and  besides,  such  a  man  as 
you  are,  need  not  be  told  how  to  fulfil  his  duty." 

The  doctor  was  appeased. 

"All  that  is  right  and  good,"  he  cried;  "but 
nevertheless  by  your  fault  I  am  too  late;  the  good 
places  are  taken,  the  crosses  distributed.  Come, 
where  is  the  general,  that  I  may  make  complaints 
to  him?" 

"  I  am  the  general." 

"Oh!  oh!  really?" 

"  Yes,  doctor,  I  am  the  general;  and  I  promote 
you  to  be  our  head  surgeon." 

"  Chief  surgeon  of  the  partisans  of  the  Vos- 
ges!  Well,  it  suits  me.  No  malice  now,  Jean- 
Claude." 


io8     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Approaching  the  carl,  the  worthy  man  told  Cath- 
erine that  he  relied  on  her  for  the  organization  of 
the  ambulances. 

"  Everything  shall  be  ready,  doctor,"  replied  the 
farm-mistress.  "  Louise  and  I  are  going  to  set  to 
work  this  evening.  Is  it  not  so,  Louise? " 

"  Oh,  yes,  Mamma  Lefevre,"  said  she,  enchanted 
to  perceive  that  the  campaign  was  going  to  begin. 
".We  shall  work  well;  we  will  spend  the  night  at 
it  even.  M.  Lorquin  shall  be  well  pleased,  with  us." 

"  Well,  then,  let  us  go.  You  will  dine  with  us, 
doctor?" 

They  trotted  away.  While  keeping  pace  with 
them,  the  good  doctor  related  to  Catherine  laugh- 
ingly how  the  tidings  of  the  general  rising  had 
reached  him;  the  affliction  of  his  old  housekeeper, 
Mario,  who  wanted  to  prevent  his  going  to  be  mas- 
sacred by  the  "  kaiserlichs,"  and  the  various  epi- 
sodes of  his  journey  from  Quibolo  to  the  village  of 
Cliarmes.  Hullin,  Materne,  and  his  sons  were  com- 
ing on  behind,  their  carbines  on  their  shoulders; 
and  thus  they  ascended  the  hill-side  toward  the  farm 
of  Bois-de-Chenes. 


CHAPTEK  IX 

THE   CONSCRIPT 

You  can  imagine  the  animation  at  the  farm,  the 
bustling  of  the  domestics,  the  shouts  of  enthusiasm, 
the  chinking  of  glasses  and  forks,  the  joy  depicted 
on  all  faces,  when  Jean-Claude,  Doctor  Lorquin, 
the  Maternes,  and  all  those  who  had  followed  the 
cart  of  Catherine  Lefevre  were  installed  in  the  large 
room  around  a  magnificent  ham,  and  began  to  cele- 
brate their  future  triumphs,  glass  in  hand. 

It  was  on  a  Tuesday,  baking-day  at  the  farm. 
Excitement  had  prevailed  in  the  kitchen  all  the 
morning:  old  Duchene,  with  shirt-sleeves  turned 
up  and  a  cotton  cap  on  his  head,  was  taking  out  of 
the  oven  numberless  loaves  of  bread,  the  good  odor 
of  which  pervaded  the  whole  house.  Annette  re- 
ceived them  and  piled  them  on  the  hearth;  Louisa 
waited  on  the  guests;  and  Catherine  Lefevre  super- 
intended everything,  crying  out, — "  Make  haste, 
my  children — make  haste!  The  third  batch  must 
be  ready  when  the  men  from  the  Sarre  arrive.  It 
will  make  six  pounds  of  bread  for  each  man." 
109 


no     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

Iluliin,  from  his  seat,  watched  the  movements 
of  the  old  farm-mistress. 

"  What  a  woman!  "  said  he;  "  what  a  woman! 
She  forgets  nothing.  Could  one  find  another  such 
in  the  whole  country?  To  the  health  of  Catherine 
Lefevre!  " 

"  To  the  health  of  Catherine  Lefevre!  "  replied 
the  others. 

The  glasses  met  together,  and  they  began  again 
to  talk  over  combats,  assaults,  and  intrenchments. 
Each  one  felt  animated  with  an  invincible  con- 
fidence; every  one  said  in  himself,  "All  will  go 
well!  " 

But  heaven  had  in  store  for  them  yet  another 
satisfaction  on  that  day,  especially  for  Louise  and 
the  Mother  Lefevre.  About  noon,  just  as  a  beauti- 
ful gleam  of  winter  sunshine  whitened  the  snow 
and  made  the  frost  melt  on  the  window-panes,  and 
the  great  cock,  putting  his  head  out  of  his  coop, 
uttered  his  triumphant  crow,  flapping  his  wings 
— just  then  the  watch-dog,  old  "  Yohan,"  half  blind 
and  toothless,  began  to  bark  so  joyously  and  plain- 
tively, that  everyone  listened  with  the  greatest 
attention.  The  kitchen  was  all  excitement  with 
the  fourth  batch  coming  out  of  the  oven,  and  even 
Catherine  Lefevre  herself  stopped. 

"  Something  is  going  on,"  said  she,  in  a  low 


THE   CONSCRIPT  m 

voice;   and  then  added,  all  trembling,  "  Since  my 
boy  left,  Yohan  has  never  barked  like  that." 

At  the  same  moment,  rapid  steps  traversed  the 
court.  Louise  sprang  toward  the  door,  crying, — 
''It  is  he!  It  is  he!  "  and  almost  immediately  a 
hand  tried  to  hasp.  The  door  opened,  and  a  sol- 
dier appeared  on  the  threshold;  but  such  a  soldier, 
so  worn,  so  bronzed,  so  emaciated!  his  gray  hood, 
with  its  pewter  buttons,  so  ragged — his  high  leath- 
ern gaiters  so  torn,  that  all  present  were  astonished. 

He  appeared  unable  to  advance  a  step  farther, 
and  slowly  put  the  butt-end  of  his  musket  on  the 
ground.  The  tip  of  his  aquiline  nose — the  nose  of 
Mother  Lefevre — shone  like  bronze;  his  red  mus- 
taches shook  like  one  of  those  great  lean  hawks 
which  are  forced  by  hunger  to  come  to  the  very 
doors  of  the  stables  in  winter.  He  looked  into  the 
kitchen,  pale  beneath  the  brown  coating  of  his 
cheeks,  and  with  his  great  hollow  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  he  seemed  unable  to  advance  or  say  a  word. 

Outride,  the  old  dog  leaped,  whined,  and  shook 
his  chain;  in  the  interior,  one  could  hear  the  fire 
bkzing,  so  great  was  the  silence;  but  soon  Cath- 
erine Lefevre,  with  a  piercing  voice,  exclaimed,— 
"  Gaspare! !  my  child!  It  is  thou!  " 

"  Yes,  my  mother,"  replied  the  soldier,  softly, 
as  though  suffocating. 


112     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

And  at  the  same  moment  Louise  began  to  weep, 
while  in  the  great  room  there  arose  a  shout  like 
thunder.  All  the  friends  ran  out,  Master  Jean- 
Claude  at  their  head,  crying, — "  Gaspard!  Gaspard 
Lefevre!  " 

Then  they  saw  Gaspard  and  his  mother  embrac- 
ing each  other.  This  strong,  courageous  woman 
was  weeping:  he  did  not  weep;  he  held  her  pressed 
to  his  breast,  his  red  mustaches  mingling  with  her 
gray  locks,  and  murmured, — "  My  mother! — my 
mother!  Ah,  how  often  have  I  thought  of  you!  " 
Then,  in  a  louder  voice,  he  said,  "  Louise!  Where 
is  Louise  ?  I  saw  Louise !  "  And  Louise  threw  her- 
self into  his  arms,  and  their  kisses  were  mingled  to- 
gether. "  Ah,  thou  didst  not  recognize  me,  Lou- 
ise! " 

"  Oh,  yes! — oh,  yes!  I  knew  thee,  even  by  thy 
step! " 

Old  Ducheme,  with  his  cotton  cap  in  his 
hands,  stammered  out  by  the  fireplace, — "Lord! 
is  it  possible?  My  poor  child!  What  does  he 
look  like?" 

He  had  brought  up  Gaspard,  and  always  fancied 
him,  ever  since  his  departure,  fresh  and  ruddy  in 
a  beautiful  uniform  with  red  facings.  It  completely 
deranged  his  ideas  to  see  him  otherwise. 

At  that  moment  Hullin,  raising  his  voice,  said, 


THE   CONSCRIPT  113 

— "  And  the  rest  of  us,  Gaspard, — thy  old  friends 
— art  thou  not  going  to  take  notice  of  us?  " 

Then  the  brave  fellow  turned  round  and  ex- 
exclaimed  with  enthusiasm, — "Hullin!  Doctor 
Lorquin!  Materne!  Frantz!  Why,  they  are  all 
here!" 

And  the  embraces  recommenced,  but  this  time 
more  joyously,  with  shouts  of  laughter  and  shaking 
of  hands  that  seemed  endless. 

"Ah,  doctor,  it  is  you!  Ah,  my  old  father, 
Jean-Claude!" 

They  looked  closely  at  each  other,  with  bright, 
beaming  faces,  and  went  arm-in-arm  up  and  down 
the  great  room;  and  Mother  Catherine  with  the 
knapsack,  Louise  with  the  gun,  and  Duchene  with 
the  shako,  followed  them,  laughing  and  drying  their 
cheeks  and  eyes — nothing  had  ever  been  seen  like 
it  before. 

"  Let  us  sit  down  and  drink !  "  exclaimed  Doc- 
tor Lorquin.  "  This  is  the  bouquet  of  the  feast." 

"  Ah,  my  poor  Gaspard,  how  happy  I  am  to  be- 
hold thee  safe  and  sound,"  said  Hullin.  "  Ha,  ha! 
Without  flattery,  I  like  thee  better  as  thou  art  now 
than  with  thy  great  red  cheeks.  Parbleu!  thou 
art  a  man  now.  Thou  remindest  me  of  the  old 
fellows  of  my  time,  those  of  the  Sambre  and  Egypt 
— ha,  ha,  ha !  we  had  not  round  noses,  we  were  not 


ii4     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

sleek  and  fat;  we  looked  like  lean  rats  watching  a 
cheese,  and  our  teeth  were  long  and  white!  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  that  does  not  surprise  me,  Papa  Jean- 
Claude.  Come,  let  us  sit  down;  we  can  talk  more 
at  ease.  Ah,  now,  why  are  you  all  at  the  farm?  " 

"  What,  dost  thou  not  know?  All  the  country 
is  up,  from  Houpe  to  Saint-Sauveur,  to  defend  it- 
self." 

"  Yes,  the  anabaptist  of  Painbach  just  mentioned 
it  as  I  passed.  It  is  then  true  ?  " 

"  It  is  true.  Everybody  is  in  it;  and  I  am  the 
general  in  chief." 

"Excellent — excellent!  That  these  rogues  of 
1  kaiserlichs '  should  not  carry  everything  with  a 
high  hand  in  our  own  country  gives  me  pleasure. 
But  hand  me  the  knife.  Anyway  one  is  happy  to 
find  one's  self  at  home  again.  He!  Louise,  come 
here  and  sit  down  a  little  while.  Look,  Papa  Jean- 
Claude:  with  this  girl  on  one  side  of  me,  the  ham 
on  the  other,  and  the  bottle  to  the  front,  I  should 
not  need  a  fortnight  to  pick  up  again;  and  my 
comrades  would  not  know  me  when  I  joined  the 
company." 

Everybody  was  now  sitting  down  and  astonished 
to  see  with  what  appetite  the  brave  fellow  ate  and 
drank,  while  regarding  Louise  and  his  mother  ten- 
derly, and  replying  to  one  and  the  other,  without 
losing  a  single  mouthful. 


THE    CONSCRIPT  115 

The  farm-people,  Duchene,  Annette,  Robin,  and 
Dubourg,  arranged  in  a  half-circle,  watched  Gas- 
pard  in  ecstasies;  Louise  refilled  his  glass;  the 
Mother  Lefevre,  seated  by  the  stove,  got  up  and 
went  to  his  knapsack,  and,  on  only  finding  two  old 
black  shirts  with  holes  wide  enough  to  put  one's 
hand  through,  with  worn-out  shoes  and  a  bit  of 
wax  for  cartridges,  a  comb  with  two  teeth  and  an 
empty  bottle,  she  lifted  her  hands  to  heaven  and 
hastening  to  open  the  linen  chest,  saying,  "  Lord, 
can  one  be  astonished  that  so  many  die  of  sheer 
want!" 

Doctor  Lorquin,  in  presence  of  such  a  vigorous 
appetite,  rubbed  his  hands  joyfully,  and  murmured 
to  himself,  "What  a  sturdy  fellow!  What  a  di- 
gestion! What  a  set  of  teeth!  He  could  crunch 
pebbles  like  nuts." 

And  even  old  Materne  said  to  his  sons: — "In 
other  days,  after  two  or  three  days  of  hunting  in  the 
high  mountains  in  winter,  I  also  used  to  feel  the 
hunger  of  a  wolf,  and  to  eat  a  haunch  of  venison 
right  off:  now  I  am  getting  old,  one  or  two  pounds 
of  meat  are  sufficient  for  me — which  shows  what 
age  does." 

Hullin  had  lit  his  pipe,  and  seemed  in  a  reverie: 
evidently  something  worried  him.  After  a  few 
minutes,  seeing  that  Gaspard's  appetite  was  less 


n6     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

lively,  he  brusquely  asked,  "  Say,  then,  Gaspard, 
without  interrupting  thyself,  how  the  devil  hast 
thou  managed  to  come?  "We  believed  that  thou 
wast  still  on  the  borders  of  the  Rhine,  on  the  Stras- 
bourg side." 

"Ah!  ah!  old  soldier,  I  comprehend,"  said 
young  Lefevre,  winking.  "  There  are  so  many  de- 
serters, are  there  not? " 

"  Oh !  such  an  idea  would  never  enter  my  head, 
and  yet " 

"  You  would  not  be  sorry  to  know  that  I  had 
done  nothing  wrong?  I  cannot  blame  you,  Papa 
Jean-Claude:  you  are  right.  He  who  is  missing 
at  the  roll-call  when  the  *  kaiserlichs  '  are  in  France, 
deserves  to  be  shot.  Be  composed,  here  is  my 
leave." 

ITullin,  who  possessed  no  false  delicacy,  read, 
• — "  Leave  for  twenty-four  hours  to  the  grenadier 
Gaspard  Lefevre,  of  the  2d  of  the  1st.  This  day, 
3d  January,  1814. — GEMEAU,  Head  of  Battalion." 

"  Good,  good,"  exclaimed  he.  "  Put  that  care- 
fully in  thy  knapsack,  thou  mightest  lose  it." 

All  his  good-humor  had  returned: — "Do  you 
see,  my  children,  I  know  what  love  is?  There  is 
both  good  and  bad  in  it:  but  it  is  particularly  bad 
for  young  soldiers  who  come  too  close  to  their  vil- 
lage after  a  campaign.  They  are  capable  of  forget- 


THE   CONSCRIPT 


117 


ting  themselves  and  of  not  returning  unless  in  com- 
pany of  two  or  three  gendarmes.  I  have  seen  it. 
But  come,  since  everything  is  in  order,  let  us  drink 
a  glass  of  '  rikevir.'  What  say  you,  Catherine? 
The  men  of  the  Sarre  may  arrive  at  any  moment, 
and  we  have  not  an  instant  to  lose  ? " 

"  You  are  right,  Jean-Claude,"  replied  the  old 
farm-mistress  sadly.  "  Annette,  go  down  and  bring 
three  bottles  from  the  small  cellar." 

The  servant  obeyed  quickly. 

"  But  this  leave,  Gaspard,"  continued  Catherine 
— "  how  long  has  it  lasted?  " 

"  I  received  it  yesterday,  at  eight  in  the  evening, 
at  Yasselonne,  my  mother.  The  regiment  is  retreat- 
ing on  Lorraine;  I  must  rejoin  it  this  evening  at 
Phalsbourg." 

"  It  is  well ;  thou  hast  still  seven  hours ;  thou 
wilt  not  need  more  than  six  to  reach  there,  although 
there  is  much  snow  on  the  Foxthal." 

The  good  woman  came  and  sat  down  again  by 
her  son,  with  a  full  heart.  Every  one  was  moved. 
Louise,  with  her  arm  on  the  old  tattered  epaulet 
of  Gaspard  and  her  cheek  against  his,  was  sobbing. 
Hullin  emptied  the  ashes  from  his  pipe  at  the  end 
of  the  table,  frowning,  without  saying  anything, 
but  when  the  bottles  arrived  and  were  uncorked, 
"  Come,  Louise,"  said  he,  "  take  courage!  this  can- 


n8     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

not  last  forever;  it  must  end  in  one  way  or  another, 
and  I  venture  to  affirm  that  it  will  end  well.  Gas- 
pard  will  come  back  to  us,  and  then  we  shall  have 
the  wedding." 

He  refilled  the  glasses,  and  Catherine  dried  her 
eyes,  murmuring,  "  To  think  that  those  brigands  are 
the  cause  of  all  this.  Ah!  let  them  come — let  them 
come  here!  " 

They  all  drank  with  a  melancholy  air;  but  the 
old  "  rikevir,"  entering  the  hearts  of  these  brave 
people  quickly  enlivened  them.  Gaspard,  stronger 
than  he  had  appeared  at  first,  began  to  relate  the 
terrible  battles  of  Bautzen,  Lutzen,  Leipzig,  and 
Hanau,  where  the  conscripts  had  fought  like  tried 
soldiers,  winning  victory  after  victory,  till  traitors 
began  to  appear. 

Every  one  listened  in  silence.  Louise,  when  he 
spoke  of  any  great  danger — of  the  passage  over 
rivers  under  the  enemy's  fire,  or  the  taking  of  a 
battery  by  the  bayonet — squeezed  his  arm  as  though 
to  defend  him.  Jean-Claude's  eyes  sparkled;  the 
doctor  demanded  each  time  the  position  of  the  am- 
bulance; Materne  and  his  sons  stretched  out  their 
necks  and  clinched  their  jaws;  and  with  help  of 
the  old  wine  the  enthusiasm  increased  every  mo- 
ment. "Ah,  the  rascals!  ah,  the  brigands!  But 
look  out !  it  is  not  over  yet." 


THE   CONSCRIPT  119 

Mother  Lefevre  admired  the  courage  and  luck 
of  her  son  in  the  midst  of  these  events,  which  will 
be  remembered  centuries  to  come.  But  when 
Lagarmitte,  looking  solemn  and  grave  in  his  long 
gray  cloth  coat,  with  his  broad  black  felt  on  his 
white  head,  and  with  his  bark  trumpet  on  his 
shoulder,  crossed  the  kitchen,  and  appeared  at  the 
entrance  to  the  large  room,  saying, — "  The  men  of 
the  Sarre  are  come," — then  all  this  enthusiasm 
disappeared,  and  the  company  rose,  .thinking  of 
the  terrible  struggle  which  would  soon  take  place 
in  the  mountains. 

Louise,  throwing  her  arms  round  Gaspard's 
neck,  cried,  "  Gaspard,  do  not  go  away!  Remain 
with  us!" 

He  became  very  pale. 

"  I  am  a  soldier,"  said  he.  "  I  am  called,  Gas- 
pard Lefevre.  I  love  thee  a  thousand  times  more 
than  my  own  life;  but  a  Lefevre  only  knows  his 
duty."  ' 

And  he  unwound  her  arms.  Louise  then,  sink- 
ing on  the  table,  began  to  moan  aloud.  Gaspard 
rose.  Hullin  stood  between  them,  and  grasping 
his  hands  tightly,  with  trembling  lips,  said :  "  Ex- 
cellently well!  Thou  hast  spoken  like  a  man." 

His  mother  came  forward  with  a  calm  counte- 
nance to  buckle  his  knapsack  on  his  shoulders. 


t20     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

She  did  it  with  knitted  eyebrows  and  pressed  lips, 
without  one  sigh  escaping  her;  but  two  great  tears 
slowly  ran  down  the  wrinkles  of  her  cheeks.  And 
when  she  had  done  it,  she  turned  away,  and  with 
her  sleeve  over  her  eyes,  said:  "  It  is  well!  Go — 
go,  my  child!  thy  mother  blesses  thee.  Whatever 
thy  fortune  thou  wilt  yet  not  be  lost  to  us.  Look, 
Gaspard:  there  is  thy  place — there  between  Louise 
and  myself — thou  wilt  always  be  there.  This  poor 
child  is  not  old  enough  yet  to  know  that  to  live  is 
-  to  suffer." 

Everybody  left;  only  Louise  remained  lament- 
ing in  the  room.  A  few  seconds  later,  as  the  butt 
end  of  the  musket  sounded  on  the  slabs  of  the  kitch- 
en, and  the  outer  door  was  opened,  she  gave  a 
piercing  shriek,  and  darted  after  him. 

"  Gaspard,  Gaspard,  look!  I  will  be  courageous; 
I  will  not  cry;  I  will  not  keep  thee  back.  Oh,  no; 
but  do  not  leave  me  in  anger.  Have  pity  on  me!  " 

"  Angry!  angry  with  thee,  my  Louise!  Oh, 
no!  But  to  see  thee  so  unhappy  breaks  my  heart. 
Ah !  if  thou  wert  a  little  braver  now,  I  should  feel 
happier." 

"  Well,  I  am.  Let  us  kiss  each  other!  See,  I 
am  no  longer  the  same.  I  would  be  like  Maman 
Lefevre." 

They  calmly  gave  each  other  a  parting  embrace, 


LOUISE  THROWING  HER  ARMS  AROUND  GASPARD'S  NECK. 


THE   CONSCRIPT  121 

Hullin  held  the  gun;  Catherine  motioned  with  her 
hands,  as  though  to  say,  "  Go,  go!  it  is  enough!  " 
And  he,  suddenly  seizing  his  musket,  walked  away 
resolutely,  without  looking  back. 

On  the  other  side,  the  men  of  the  Sarre,  with 
their  axes  and  hatchets,  were  climbing  the  steep 
ascent  of  the  Valtin. 

Five  minutes  later,  on,  passing  by  the  great  oak, 
Gaspard  turned  round,  lifting  his  hands.  Cathe- 
rine and  Louise  replied  to  it.  Hullin  advanced  to 
meet  his  people.  Doctor  Lorquin  alone  remained 
with  the  women;  and  when  Gaspard,  continuing 
his  way,  had  disappeared,  he  exclaimed,  "  Catherine 
Lefevre,  you  can  pride  yourself  on  having  an  affec- 
tionate son.  God  grant  him  good  fortune!  " 

And  the  distant  voices  of  the  new-comers  could 
be  heard  laughing  among  themselves,  as  they  were 
marching  to  war  as  gayly  as  to  a  wedding. 


CHAPTER  X 
ROBIN'S    VISION 

As  Hullin,  at  the  head  of  the  mountaineers,  was 
taking  his  measures  for  the  defence  of  his  country, 
-the  madman  Yegof,  with  his  tin  crown,  that  sad 
spectacle  of  humanity  shorn  of  its  noblest  attribute, 
intelligence — the  madman  Yegof,  his  breast  ex- 
posed to  the  fierce  wind,  his  feet  bare,  reckless  of 
cold,  like  the  reptile  in  his  prison,  was  wandering 
from  mountain  to  mountain,  in  the  midst  of  the 
snows  of  winter.  How  comes  it  that  the  madman 
is  able  to  resist  the  sharpest  severity  of  the  atmos- 
phere, while  an  intelligent  being  would  succumb  to 
it?  Does  it  arise  from  a  more  powerful  concentra- 
tion of  life,  a  more  rapid  circulation  of  the  blood,  a 
state  of  continued  fever?  Or  is  it  the  effect  of  the 
extraordinary  excitement  of  the  senses,  or  any  other 
unknown  cause? 

Science  tells  us  nothing.  She  admits  only  ma- 
terial causes,  without  giving  an  account  of  such 
phenomena. 

123 


ROBIN'S   VISION  123 

So  Yegof  went  on  at  random,  and  night  came. 
The  cold  was  redoubled,  the  fox  gnashed  his  teeth 
in  the  pursuit  of  an  invisible  prey  ;  the  famished 
buzzard  fell  back  with  empty  claws  among  the 
bushes,  uttering  a  cry  of  distress.  He,  with  his  ra- 
ven on  his  shoulder,  gesticulating,  jabbering,  as  if 
in  a  dream,  kept  walking  on,  from  Holderloch  to 
Sonneberg,  from  Sonneberg  to  Blutfeld. 

Xow,  on  this  particular  night,  the  old  shepherd, 
Robin,  of  the  farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes,  was  destined 
to  be  the  witness  of  a  most  strange  and  fearful  sight. 

Some  days  ago,  having  been  overtaken  by  the  first 
fall  of  snow  at  the  bottom  of  the  ravine  of  the  Blut- 
feld, he  had  left  his  cart  there  to  conduct  his  flock 
back  to  the  farm  ;  but  having  discovered  that  he 
had  forgotten  his  sheepskin,  and  left  it  in  a  shed 
there,  he  had  on  this  day,  when  his  work  was  done, 
set  out  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  to  go  and 
fetch  it.  The  Blutfeld,  situated  between  the 
Schneeberg  and  the  Grosrnann,  is  a  narrow  gorge, 
bounded  by  rocks.  A  narrow  stream  of  water 
winds  through  it,  under  shadow  of  the  tall  shrubs, 
and  in  its  depths  extends  a  vast  pasturage,  all  cov- 
ered with  large  gray  stones,  that  lie  thickly  scattered 
about. 

This  gorge  is  very  little  frequented,  for  there  is 
a  wild  look  about  the  Blutfeld,  especially  by  the 


124     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

light  of  a  winter  moon.  The  learned  folks  of  these 
regions,  the  school-master  of  Dagsburg,  and  he  of 
Hazlach,  say  that  in  that  spot  occurred  the  famous 
battle  of  the  Triboques  against  the  Germans,  who 
wished  to  penetrate  into  Gaul,  under  the  command 
of  a  leader  named  Luitprandt.  They  say  that  the 
Triboques,  from  the  neighboring  heights,  hurling 
upon  their  enemies  huge  masses  of  rocks,  crushed 
them  there  as  in  a  mortar,  and  that,  on  account  of 
this  great  carnage,  the  gorge  has  preserved  to  this 
day  the  name  of  Blutfeld,  Fragments  of  broken 
pots,  of  rusty  lances,  of  helmets,  and  long  swords 
with  cross  hilts,  are  often  found  there. 

At  night,  when  the  moon  sheds  her  light  upon 
this  field  and  those  immense  stones,  all  covered  with 
snow,  when  the  north  wind  blows  among  the  frost- 
covered  branches,  making  them  rattle  and  clatter 
like  cymbals,  you  might  fancy  you  heard  the  wild 
cry  of  the  Germans  at  the  moment  of  surprise,  the 
shrieks  of  the  women,  the  neighings  of  the  horses, 
the  rumbling  of  the  chariots  in  the  defile  ;  for  it 
seems  that  these  people  brought  with  them,  in  their 
skin-covered  carriages,  women,  children,  old  men, 
and  all  that  they  possessed  in  gold,  and  silver,  and 
movables,  like  the  Germans  setting  out  for  America. 
The  Triboques  never  ceased  to  massacre  them  dur- 
ing two  days,  and  on  the  third  day  they  returned  to 


ROBIN'S   VISION  125 

the  Donon,  the  Schneeberg,  the  Grosmann,  the  Gi- 
romani,  the  Hengst, — their  broad  shoulders  stoop- 
ing under  the  weight  of  their  booty. 

This  is  what  is  related  concerning  the  Blutfeld, 
and  certainly  to  see  this  gorge  enclosed  within  the 
mountains  like  an  immense  trap,  without  any  other 
outlet  than  a  narrow  footpath,  it  is  easy  to  under- 
stand how  the  Germans  were  taken  at  a  disadvan- 
tage and  fell  an  easy  prey  to  their  conquerors. 

Robin  did  not  reach  the  spot  till  between  seven 
and  eight  o'clock,  just  as  the  moon  was  rising. 

The  worthy  fellow  had  descended  the  precipice 
a  hundred  times,  but  never  had  he  beheld  the  place 
so  brightly  illuminated,  and  at  the  same  time  of  so 
gloomy  an  aspect. 

At  a  distance,  his  white  cart,  at  the  bottom  of 
the  abyss,  looked  to  him  exactly  like  one  of  those 
enormous  stones,  covered  with  snow,  beneath  which 
the  Germans  had  been  buried.  It  was  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  gorge,  behind  a  thick  cluster  of  shrubs, 
and  beside  it  the  little  torrent  ran  murmuring  in  a 
slender  stream,  bright  as  steel,  and  sparkling  like 
diamonds. 

When  he  arrived  there,  the  shepherd  began  to 
look  for  the  key  of  the  padlock  ;  then,  having  un- 
locked the  shed,  he  crept  in  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
and  found,  very  fortunately,  not  only  his  sheep- 


126     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

skin,  but  an  old  hatchet,  which  he  had  quite  forgot 
ten. 

But  judge  of  his  surprise  when,  on  issuing  from 
it,  he  saw  the  madman  Yegof  appear  at  the  turn  of 
the  footpath,  and  come  straight  toward  him  in  the 
bright  moonlight. 

The  honest  man  irnme  aately  remembered  the 
fearful  story  told  in  the  kitchen  of  Bois-do-Chenes, 
and  he  felt  afraid  ;  but  quite  another  feeling  came 
over  him  when  behind  the  fool,  at  fifteen  or  twenty 
-paces,  he  beheld,  stealthily  approaching  in  their 
turn,  five  gray  wolves,  two  big  and  three  smaller 
ones. 

At  first  he  took  them  for  dogs,  but  they  were 
wolves.  They  followed  Yegof  step  by  step,  and  he 
did  not  appear  to  see  them  ;  his  raven  hovered  over- 
head, flitting  from  the  full  moonlight  to  the  shadow 
of  the  rocks,  and  then  returning  ;  the  wolves,  with 
flaming  eyes,  their  sharp  muzzles  turned  up,  were 
sniffing  the  air  ;  the  fool  raised  his  sceptre. 

The  shepherd  pulled-to  the  door  of  the  shed  as 
quick  as  lightning,  but  Yegof  did  not  see  him.  He 
advanced  into  the  gorge  as  into  a  spacious  chamber, 
to  the  right  and  left  rose  the  steep  rocks,  above 
which  myriads  of  stars  were  shining.  You  might 
have  heard  a  fly  move  ;  the  wolves  made  no  noise 
in  walking  ;  all  was  silent,  and  the  raven  had  just 


ROBIN'S   VISION 


127 


perched  on  the  top  of  an  old  withered  oak  that  grew 
upon  one  of  the  rocks  opposite  ;  his  shining  plu- 
mage looked  still  darker  than  usual,  as  he  turned 
his  head,  and  seemed  to  be  listening. 

It  was  a  strange  sight. 

Eobin  said  to  himself  : — "  The  fool  sees  nothing, 
hears  nothing  ;  they  will  devour  him.  If  he  stum- 
bles, if  his  foot  slips,  it  is  all  over  with  him." 

But  in  the  middle  of  the  gorge,  Yegof,  having 
turned  round,  sat  down  upon  a  stone,  and  the  five 
wolves  round  him,  still  sniffing  the  air,  squatted  on 
their  haunches  in  the  snow. 

And  then,  a  really  terrible  sight — the  fool  rais-. 
ing  his  sceptre,  made  them  a  speech,  calling  them 
each  by  his  name. 

The  wolves  answered  him  with  dismal  howls. 

Now  this  is  what  he  said  to  them: — "  He,  Child, 
Bled,  Merweg,  and  thou,  Sirimar,  my  ancient,  we 
are  met  together,  then,  once  again  !  You  have  re- 
turned fat.  There  has  been  good  cheer  in  Ger- 
many, eh? " 

Then,  pointing  to  the  snow-covered  gorge  : — 
"  You  remember  the  great  battle  ?  " 

First  one  of  the  wolves  began  to  howl  slowly  in  a 
dismal  voice,  then  another,  then  all  the  five  to- 
gether. 

This  lasted  a  good  ten  minutes. 


128     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

The  raven,  perched  on  the  withered  branch,  did 
not  stir. 

Eobin  would  gladly  have  fled.  He  put  up  his 
prayers,  invoked  all  the  saints,  and,  in  particular,  his 
own  patron,  for  whom  all  the  shepherds  of  the 
mountain  have  the  highest  veneration. 

But  the  wolves  still  continued  howling,  awaken- 
ing all  the  echoes  of  the  Blutf  eld. 

At  last  one,  the  oldest  of  the  number,  was  silent, 
then  another,  then  all,  and  Yegof  continued  : — • 
"  Yes,  yes  :  that  is  a  dismal  story.  Look  !  there 
is  the  river  down  which  our  blood  flowed  in  streams ! 
No  matter,  Merweg,  no  matter  ;  the  others  have  left 
their  bones  to  whiten  on  the  common,  and  the  cold 
moon  has  seen  their  women  tearing  their  hair  for 
three  days  and  three  nights!  Oh,  that  fright- 
ful day!  Oh,  the  dogs!  were  they  proud  of 
their  great  victory?  Let  them  be  accursed — 
accursed." 

The  fool  had  cast  his  crown  to  the  ground.  He 
now  picked  it  up,  groaning  as  he  did  so. 

The  wolves,  still  crouching  round,  listened  to 
him  like  attentive  spectators.  The  biggest  among 
them  began  to  howl,  and  Yegof  answered  his 
complaint. 

"  You  are  hungry,  Sirimar  ;  take  comfort,  take 
comfort ;  you  will  not  want  for  food  much  longer  ; 


T1IE  LUNATIC,   WAVING   HIS  SCEPTKE,    MADE  THEM  A   DISCOURSE. 


ROBIN'S   VISION 


129 


the  men  of  our  side  are  coming,  and  the  strife  will 
begin  afresh." 

Then  rising,  and  striking  his  sceptre  on  a  stone, 
"  See,"  said  he,  "  behold  thy  bones  !  " 

He  approached  another.  "  And  thine,  Merweg, 
behold  them  !  "  said  he. 

All  the  troop  followed  him,  while  he,  raising 
himself  upon  a  low  rock,  and  glancing  round  upon 
the  silent  gorge,  exclaimed  : — "  Our  war-song  is  si- 
lent !  our  war-song  is  now  a  groan  !  The  hour  is 
near  ;  it  will  reawaken,  and  you  will  be  among  the 
warriors  ;  you  will  possess  once  more  these  valleys 
and  these  mountains.  Oh  !  that  sound  of  wheels, 
those  cries  of  women,  those  blows  from  crushing 
rocks  and  stones  ;  I  hear  them  ;  the  air  is  full  of 
them.  Yes,  yes  ;  they  fell  on  us  from  above,  and 
we  were  surrounded.  And  now  all  is  dead  ;  hear  ! 
all  is  dead  ;  your  bones  sleep,  but  your  children  are 
on  their  way,  and  your  turn  will  come.  Sing  ! 
sing  !  " 

And  this  time  he  himself  began  to  howl,  while 
the  wolves  took  up  again  their  savage  song. 

These  dismal  howls  grew  more  and  more  loud  and 
appalling  ;  and  the  silence  of  the  rocks  around, 
some  plunged  in  darkness,  while  others  were  fully 
revealed  in  the  moon's  rays,  the  solemn  stillness  of 
every  tree  and  shrub  beneath  its  weight  of  snow,  the 

9 


>3o     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

distant  echoes  replying  with  a  sad  voice  to  the 
mournful  concert,  all  were  calculated  to  strike  ter- 
ror into  the  breast  of  the  old  shepherd. 

But  by  degrees  his  fears  grew  less,  for  Yegof  and 
his  gloomy  procession  were  getting  farther  and  far- 
ther away  from  him,  and  gradually  retreating  tow- 
ard Hazlach. 

The  raven,  in  his  turn,  with  a  hoarse  cry  unfurled 
his  wings,  and  took  his  flight  through  the  sky. 

The  whole  scene  vanished  like  a  dream. 

Robin  heard  for  a  long  while  after  the  bowlings 
of  the  retreating  wolves.  They  had  completely 
ceased  for  more  than  twenty  minutes.  The  silence 
of  winter  reigned  on  all  sides,  when  the  worthy  man 
felt  himself  sufficiently  recovered  from  his  fright  to 
come  out  of  his  hiding-place,  and  take  his  way  back 
at  full  speed  to  the  farm. 

On  arriving  at  Bois-de-Chenes,  he  found  every- 
body stirring.  They  were  preparing  to  kill  an  ox 
for  the  troops  from  the  Donon.  Hullin,  Doctor 
Lorquin,  and  Louise  were  already  set  out  with  those 
from  the  Sarre.  Catherine  Lefevre  was  loading 
her  great  four-horse  wagon  with  bread,  meat,  and 
brandy.  People  were  coming  and  going  in  all  di- 
rections, and  all  lending  a  helping  hand  in  the  prep- 
arations. 

Robin  could  not  bring  himself  to  relate  to  any  one 


ROBIN'S   VISION  131 

all  that  he  had  seen  and  heard.  Besides,  it  seemed 
to  himself  so  incredible  that  he  really  dared  not  open 
his  mouth  about  it. 

When  he  had  retired  to  rest  in  his  crib  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  stable,  he  said  to  himself  that  no  doubt 
Yegof  had,  during  the  winter,  tamed  a  litter  of 
young  wolves,  and  that  he  talked  nonsense  to  them 
just  as  one  talks  sometimes  to  one's  dog. 

But,  for  all  that,  this  strange  encounter  left  a 
superstitious  dread  upon  his  mind,  and  even  when 
he  had  arrived  at  a  great  age,  the  old  fellow  never 
spoke  of  these  things  without  shuddering. 


CHAPTER  XI 

A     R  E  C  O  N  N  O  I  S  S  A  N  C  S 

HIJLLIN'S  orders  had  all  been  carried  out;  the 
defiles  of  the  Zorne  and  of  the  Sarre  were  well 
guarded  ;  while  that  of  Blanru,  the  extreme  point 
of  the  position,  had  been  put  into  a  state  of  defence 
by  Jean-Claude  himself  and  the  three  hundred  men 
who  composed  his  principal  force. 

We  must  now  transport  ourselves  to  the  southern 
slopes  of  the  Donon,  two  kilometres  from  Grand- 
fontaine,  and  await  further  events. 

Above  the  high-road  which  winds  round  the  hill- 
side up  to  within  two-thirds  of  the  summit,  was  a 
farm,  surrounded  with  a  few  acres  of  tilled  land, 
the  freehold  of  Pelsly  the  anabaptist  :  it  was  a  large 
building  with  a  flat  roof,  much  needed,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent its  being  blown  away  by  the  high  winds.  The 
out-houses  and  pigsties  were  situated  at  the  back, 
toward  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 

The  partisans  were  encamped  near  :  at  their  feet 
lay  Grandfontaine  and  Framont ;  in  a  narrow 
132 


A   RECONNOISSANCE  133 

* 

gorge  farther  on,  at  the  point  where  the  valley  takes 
a  turn,  rose  Schirmeck  and  its  old  mass  of  feudal 
ruins  ;  lastly,  among  the  undulations  of  the  chain, 
the  Bruche  disappears  in  a  zigzag,  under  the  gray- 
ish mists  of  Alsace.  To  their  left  arose  the  arid 
peak  of  the  Donon,  covered  with  rocks  and  a  few 
stunted  pines.  Before  them  was  the  rugged  road, 
its  shelving  banks  thrown  down  over  the  snow,  and 
great  trees  flung  across  it  with  all  their  branches. 

The  melting  snow  let  the  yellow  soil  be  seen  in 
patches  here  and  there,  or  else  formed  great  drifts, 
heaped  up  by  the  north  wind. 

It  was  a  grand  and  severe  spectacle.  Not  a  single 
traveller,  not  a  carriage  appeared  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  road  in  the  valley,  winding  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach  :  it  was  like  a  desert.  The  fires 
scattered  round  the  farm-house  sent  up  their  puffs 
of  damp  smoke  to  the  sky,  and  alone  indicated  the 
position  of  the  bivouac. 

The  mountaineers,  seated  by  their  kettles,  with 
their  hats  slouched  over  their  faces,  were  very  melan- 
choly :  three  days  they  had  been  awaiting  the  en- 
emy. Among  one  of  the  groups,  sitting  with  their 
legs  doubled  up,  bent  shoulders,  and  pipes  in  their 
mouths  were  old  Materne  and  his  two  sons. 

From  time  to  time  Louise  appeared  on  the  step  of 
the  farm,  then  quickly  re-entered,  and  set  herself 


I34     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

again  to  her  work.  A  great  cock  was  scratching 
up  the  manure  with  his  claws,  and  crowing  hoarse- 
ly ;  two  or  three  fowls  were  strutting  up  and  down 
among  the  bushes.  All  that  was  pleasant  to  look 
upon  ;  but  the  chief  pleasure  of  the  partisans  was 
to  contemplate  some  magnificent  quarters  of  bacon, 
with  red-and-white  sides,  which  were  spitted  on 
greenwood  sticks,  the  fat  melting  drop  by  drop  on 
to  the  small  coals — and  to  fill  their  flasks  at  a  small 
cask  of  brandy  placed  on  Catherine  Lefevre's  cart. 

Toward  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  man  sud- 
denly appeared  between  the  great  and  little  Donon ; 
the  sentinels  perceived  him  at  once  ;  he  descended, 
waving  his  hat. 

A  few  minutes  later  Nickel  Bentz,  the  old  forest- 
keeper  of  the  Houpe,  was  recognized. 

The  whole  camp  was  roused  ;  they  ran  to  awaken 
Hullin,  who  had  been  sleeping  for  an  hour  in  the 
farm-house,  on  a  great  straw  mattress,  side  by  side 
with  Doctor  Lorquin  and  his  dog  Pluto. 

The  three  came  out,  accompanied  by  the  herds- 
man Lagarmitte,  nicknamed  Trumpet,  and  the  ana- 
baptist Pelsly — a  silent  man,  having  his  arms  buried 
to  the  elbows  in  the  deep  pockets  of  his  gray  woollen 
tunic  trimmed  with  pewter  clasps,  with  an  immense 
beard,  and  the  tassel  of  his  cotton  cap  half  way  down 
his  back. 


A   RECONNOISSANCE  135 

Jean-Claude  seemed  light-hearted.  "  Well, 
Nickel,  what  is  going  on  down  there?  "  cried  he. 

"  At  present,  nothing  new,  Master  Jean-Claude; 
only  on  the  Phalsbourg  side  one  hears  something 
like  the  rumbling  of  a  storm.  Labarbe  says  that 
it  is  cannon,  for  all  night  we  have  seen  flashes 
through  the  forest  of  Hildehouse,  and  since  the 
morning  gray  clouds  have  been  spreading  over  the 
plain." 

"  The  town  is  attacked,"  said  Hullin;  "  but  what 
about  the  Lutzelstein  side?  " 

"  One  can  hear  nothing,"  replied  Bentz. 

"  Then  the  enemy  is  trying  to  turn  the  place.  In 
any  case,  the  allies  are  down  there  :  there  must  be 
hosts  of  them  in  Alsace."  And  turning  toward  Ma- 
terne,  who  was  standing  behind  him,  "  We  cannot 
remain  any  longer  in  uncertainty,"  said  he;  "  thou, 
with  thy  two  sons,  go  on  a  reconnoissance." 

The  old  hunter's  face  brightened.  "  So  be  it  ! 
I  can  stretch  my  legs  a  little,"  said  he,  "  and  see  if 
I  can't  knock  over  one  of  those  rascally  Austrians  or 
Cossacks." 

"  Stop  an  instant,  my  old  fellow  !  it  is  not  now  a 
question  of  knocking  anybody  over  ;  we  want  to  see 
what  is  going  on.  Frantz  and  Kasper  will  remain 
armed  ;  but  I  know  thee  :  thou  must  leave  thy  car- 
bine here,  thy  powder-flask,  and  thy  hunting-knife." 


136     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

"What  for?" 

"  Because  thou  wilt  have  to  go  into  the  villages, 
and  if  thou  art  taken  in  arms,  thou  wilt  be  shot  di- 
rectly." 

"Shot?" 

"  Certainly.  "We  do  not  belong  to  the  regular 
troops  ;  they  do  not  take  us  prisoners  ;  they  shoot 
us.  Thou  wilt  follow,  then,  the  road  to  Schirmeck, 
stick  in  hand,  and  thy  sons  will  accompany  thee  at 
-  a  distance,  in  the  underwood,  within  musket-range. 
If  any  marauders  attack  thee,  they  will  come  to  thy 
rescue  ;  if  it  is  a  column,  or  a  handful  of  troops, 
they  must  allow  thee  to  be  taken." 

"  They  are  to  let  me  be  taken  !  "  cried  the  old 
hunter,  indignantly.  "  I  should  like  to  see  that." 

"  Yes,  Materne  ;  it  will  be  the  best  plan  :  for  an 
unarmed  man  would  be  released,  an  armed  shot. 
I  do  not  need  to  tell  thee  not  to  sing  out  to  the  Ger- 
mans that  thou  art  come  to  spy  upon  them." 

"  Ah,  ah  !  I  comprehend.  Yes,  yes,  that  is  not 
badly  planned.  As  for  me,  I  never  quit  my  gun, 
Jean-Claude,  but  war  is  war.  Hold  !  there  is  my 
carbine,  and  my  powder-flask,  and  my  knife.  Who 
will  lend  me  his  blouse  and  his  stick? " 

Nickel  Bentz  handed  him  his  blue  blouse  and  his 
cap.  They  were  surrounded  by  an  admiring  crowd. 

After  he  had  changed  his  clothes,  notwithstand- 


A   RECONNOISSANCE  137 

ing  his  large  gray  mustaches,  one  would  have  taken 
the  old  hunter  for  a  simple  peasant  from  the  high 
mountains. 

His  two  sons,  proud  to  be  of  this  first  expedition, 
looked  to  the  priming  of  their  muskets,  and  fixed  to 
the  end  of  the  barrel  a  boar-spear,  straight  and 
long  as  a  sword.  They  felt  their  hunting-knives, 
flung  their  bags  upon  their  backs,  and  confident 
that  all  was  in  order,  they  glanced  proudly  round 
them. 

"  Ah,"  said  Doctor  Lorquin,  laughing,  "  do  not 
forget  Master  Jean-Claude's  advice.  Be  careful. 
One  German  more  or  less  in  a  hundred  thousand 
would  not  make  much  difference  in  our  affairs  ; 
whereas  if  one  or  the  other  of  you  came  back  to  us 
injured,  you  would  be  replaced  with  difficulty." 

"  Oh,  fear  nothing,  doctor  :  we  shall  have  our 
eyes  open." 

"  My  boys,"  replied  Materne,  haughtily,  "  are 
true  hunters  ;  they  know  how  to  wait  the  moment 
and  profit  by  it.  They  will  only  fire  when  I  call. 
You  can  rest  assured  !  and  now,  let  us  start  ;  we 
must  be  back  before  night." 

They  departed. 

"  Good  luck  to  you  I  "  shouted  Hullin,  while 
they  mounted  the  snow  in  order  to  avoid  the  breast- 
works. 


138     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

They  soon  descended  toward  the  narrow  path, 
which  turns  sharply  on  the  right  of  the  mountain. 

The  partisans  watched  them.  Their  red  frizzy 
hair,  long  muscular  legs,  their  broad  shoulders,  and 
supple,  quick  movements, — all  showed  that  in  case 
of  an  encounter,  five  or  six  "  kaiserlichs  "  would 
have  little  chance  against  such  fine  fellows. 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  they  had  reached  the  pine- 
forest  and  disappeared. 

Then  Hullin  quietly  returned  to  the  farm,  talking 
-to  Nickel  Bentz. 

Doctor  Lorquin  walked  behind,  followed  by 
Pluto,  and  all  the  others  returned  to  their  places 
round  the  bivouac  fires. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE   LANDLORD   OF   THE     "  PINEAPPLE  " 

MATERNE  and  his  two  boys  walked  for  some  time 
in  silence.  The  weather  had  become  fine  ;  the  pale 
winter  sun  shone  over  the  brilliant  snow  without 
melting  it,  and  the  ground  remained  firm  and  hard. 

In  the  distance,  along  the  valley,  stood  out,  with 
surprising  clearness,  the  tops  of  the  fir-trees,  the  red- 
dish peaks  of  the  rocks,  the  roofs  of  the  hamlets,  with 
their  icy  stalactites  hanging  from  the  eaves,  their 
small  sparkling  windows,  and  sharp  gables. 

People  were  walking  in  the  street  of  Grandfon- 
taine.  A  troupe  of  young  girls  were  standing  round 
the  washing-place  ;  a  few  old  men  in  cotton  caps 
were  smoking  their  pipes  on  the  doorsteps  of  the 
little  houses.  Al}  this  little  world,  lying  in  the 
depths  of  the  blue  expanse,  came,  and  went,  and 
lived,  without  a  sound  or  sigh  reaching  the  ears  of 
the  foresters. 

The  old  hunter  halted  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
wood,  and  said  to  his  sons  :  "  I  am  going  down  to 
139 


I4o     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

the  village  to  see  Dubreuil,  the  innkeeper  of  the 
'Pineapple.'" 

And  he  pointed  with  his  stick  to  a  long  white 
building,  the  doors  and  windows  of  which  were  sur- 
rounded with  a  yellow  bordering,  a  pine-branch  be- 
ing suspended  to  the  wall  as  a  signboard. 

"  You  must  await  me  here.  If  there  is  no  dan- 
ger, I  will  come  out  on  to  the  doorstep  and  raise  my 
hat  ;  you  can  then  come  and  take  a  glass  of  wine 
with  me." 

He  immediately  descended  the  snowy  slopes  to 
the  little  gardens  lying  above  Grandf ontaine,  which 
took  about  ten  minutes  ;  he  then  made  his  way  be- 
tween two  furrows,  reached  the  meadow,  and  crossed 
the  village  square  :  his  two  sons,  with  their  arms  at 
their  feet,  saw  him  enter  the  inn.  A  few  seconds 
after  he  reappeared  on  the  doorstep  and  raised  his 
hat. 

Fifteen  minutes  later  they  had  rejoined  their 
father  in  the  great  room  of  the  "  Pineapple."  It 
was  a  rather  low  room  with  a  sanded  floor,  and  heat- 
ed by  a  large  iron  stove. 

Excepting  the  innkeeper  Dubreuil,  the  biggest 
and  most  apoplectic  landlord  in  the  Vosges,  with 
immense  paunch,  round  eyes,  flat  nose,  a  wart  on  his 
left  cheek,  and  a  triple  chin  reaching  over  his  col- 
lar— with  the  exception  of  this  curious  individual, 


THE   LANDLORD  141 

seated  near  the  stove  in  a  leather  arm-chair,  Materne 
was  alone.  He  had  just  filled  the  glasses.  The 
clock  was  striking  nine,  and  its  wooden  cock  flapped 
its  wing  with  a  peculiar  scraping  sound. 

"  Good-day,  Father  Dubreuil,"  said  the  two 
youths  in  a  gruff  voice. 

"  Good-day,  my  brave  fellows,"  replied  the  inn- 
keeper, trying  to  smile. 

Then,  in  an  oily  voice,  he  asked  them,  "  Nothing 
new?  " 

"  Faith,  no  !  "  replied  Kasper  ;  "  here  is  winter, 
the  time  for  hunting  boars." 

And  they  both,  putting  their  carbines  in  the  cor- 
ner of  the  window,  within  reach,  in  case  of  attack, 
passed  one  leg  across  the  bench,  and  sat  down,  fac- 
ing their  father,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

At  the  same  time  they  drank,  saying,  "  To  our 
healths  !  "  which  they  were  always  very  careful  to 
do. 

"  Thus,"  said  Materne,  turning  to  the  fat  man, 
as  though  taking  up  the  threads  of  an  interrupted 
conversation,  "  you  think,  Father  Dubreuil,  that  we 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  wood  of  Baronies,  and 
that  we  may  hunt  boar  peaceably?  " 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,  I  know  nothing  !  "  exclaimed 
the  innkeeper  ;  "  only  at  present  the  allies  have  not 
passed  Mutzig.  Besides,  they  harm  no  one  ;  they 


I42     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

receive  all  well-disposed  people  to  fight  against  the 
usurper." 

"  The  usurper  ?     Who  is  he  ?  " 

"  Why,  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  the  usurper,  to  be 
sure.  Just  look  at  the  wall." 

He  pointed  to  a  great  placard  stuck  on  the  wall, 
near  the  clock. 

"  Look  at  that,  and  you  will  see  that  the  Austrians 
are  our  true  friends." 

Old  Materne's  eyebrows  nearly  met,  but,  repress- 
'ing  his  feelings,  "  Oh,  ah  !  "  said  he. 

"  Yes,  read  that." 

"  But  I  do  not  know  how  to  read,  Monsieur  Du- 
breuil,  nor  my  boys  either.  Explain  to  us  what  it 
is." 

Then  the  old  innkeeper,  leaning  with  his  hands  on 
the  arms  of  his  chair,  arose,  breathing  like  a  calf, 
and  placed  himself  in  front  of  the  placard,  with  his 
arms  folded  on  his  enormous  paunch  ;  and  in  a  ma- 
jestic tone  he  read  a  proclamation  from  the  allied 
sovereigns,  declaring  "  that  they  made  war  on  Na- 
poleon personally,  and  not  on  France.  Therefore 
everybody  ought  to  keep  quiet  and  not  meddle  in 
their  affairs,  under  pain  of  being  burnt,  pillaged, 
and  shot." 

The  three  hunters  listened,  and  looked  at  each 
other  with  a  strange  air. 


THE   LANDLORD  143 

"When  Dubreuil  had  finished,  he  reseated  himself 
and  said,  "  Now  do  you  see?  " 

"  And  where  did  you  get  that?  "  demanded  Kas- 
per. 

"  That,  my  boy,  is  put  up  everywhere  !  " 

"  Well,  we  are  pleased  with  that,"  said  Materne, 
laying  his  hand  on  Frantz's  arm,  who  had  risen  with 
sparkling  eyes.  "  Dost  thou  want  a  light,  Frantz? 
Here  is  my  flint." 

Frantz  sat  down  again,  and  the  old  man  contin- 
ued, good-naturedly  :  "  And  our  good  friends  the 
Germans  take  nothing  from  any  one?  " 

"  Quiet,  orderly  people  have  nothing  to  fear  ;  but 
as  to  the  rascals  who  rise,  all  is  taken  from  them. 
And  it  is  just — the  good  ought  not  to  suffer  for  the 
wicked.  For  example,  instead  of  doing  you  any 
harm,  the  allies  would  receive  you  well  at  their  head- 
quarters. You  know  the  country  :  you  would 
serve  as  guides,  and  you  would  be  richly  paid." 

There  was  a  slight  pause.  The  three  hunters 
again  looked  at  each  other  :  the  father  had  spread 
his  hands  on  the  table,  as  though  to  recommend  calm 
to  his  sons  ;  but  even  he  was  very  pale. 

The  innkeeper,  observing  nothing,  continued  : 
"  You  would  have  much  more  to  fear  in  the  woods 
of  Baronies  from  those  brigands  of  Dagsburg,  Sarre, 
and  Blanru,  who  have  all  revolted,  and  wish  to  have 
'93  over  again." 


I44     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that?  "  demanded  Materne, 
making  an  effort  to  control  himself. 

"  Am  I  sure  !  You  have  only  to  look  out  of  the 
window  and  you  will  see  them  on  the  road  to  the 
Donon.  They  have  surprised  the  anabaptist  Pelsly, 
and  bound  him  to  the  foot  of  his  bed.  They  pil- 
lage, rob,  break  up  the  roads.  But  beware!  In 
a  few  days  they  will  see  strange  things.  It  is  not 
with  a  thousand  men  that  they  will  be  attacked,  not 
with  ten  thousand,  but  with  millions.  They  will  all 
be  hung." 

Materne  rose. 

"  It  is  time  for  us  to  be  going,"  said  he  briefly. 
"  At  two  o'clock  we  must  be  at  the  wood,  and  here 
we  are  talking  quietly  like  magpies  !  Au  revoir, 
Father  Dubreuil."  They  rushed  out  hastily,  no 
longer  able  to  contain  their  passion. 

"  Think  of  what  I  have  said,"  cried  the  innkeep- 
er to  them  from  his  chair. 

Once  in  the  open  air,  Materne,  turning  round, 
said,  with  trembling  lips  :  "  If  I  had  not  restrained 
myself,  I  should  have  broken  the  bottle  on  his 
head." 

"  And  I,"  said  Frantz,  "  should  have  run  him 
through  with  my  bayonet." 

Kasper,  one  foot  on  the  step,  seemed  about  to  re- 
enter  the  inn;  he  grasped  the  handle  of  his  hunting- 


THE   LANDLORD  145 

knife,  and  his  face  bore  a  terrible  expression.  But 
his  father  took  him  by  the  arm  and  dragged  him  off, 
saying  :  "  Come,  come,  we  will  deal  with  him  later 
on.  To  counsel  me  to  betray  the  country  !  Hullin 
told  us  to  be  on  our  guard  :  he  was  right." 

They  went  down  the  street,  looking  to  the  right 
and  left  with  haggard  eyes.  The  people  asked 
among  themselves  :  What  is  the  matter  with  them? 

On  reaching  the  end  of  the  village,  they  halted, 
in  front  of  the  old  cross,  close  to  the  church,  and  Ma- 
terne  in  a  calmer  tone,  pointing  out  the  path  which 
winds  round  Phramond  over  the  heath,  said  to  his 
sons :  "  You  must  take  that  road.  I  shall  follow 
the  route  to  Schirmeck.  I  shall  not  go  too  fast,  so 
that  you  may  have  time  to  come  up  with  me." 

They  parted,  and  the  old  hunter,  with  bowed 
head,  walked  on  thoughtfully  for  a  long  time,  ask- 
ing himself  by  what  inward  strength  he  had  been 
able  to  keep  from  breaking  the  fat  innkeeper's  head. 
He  said  to  himself  that  no  doubt  it  was  from  fear  of 
compromising  his  sons. 

While  thinking  over  these  things,  Materne  kept 
continually  meeting  herds  of  cattle,  sheep  and  goats, 
which  were  being  led  into  the  mountain.  Some 
came  from  Wisch,  Urmatt,  and  even  from  Mutzig  ; 
the  poor  beasts  could  scarcely  stand. 

"  Where  the  devil    are   you  running  so  fast? " 


146     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

shouted  the  old  hunter  to  the  melancholy  herdsmen. 
"  Have  you  then  no  confidence  in  the  proclamation 
of  the  Austrians  and  Kussians?  " 

And  they  angrily  answered:  "  It  is  easy  for  you 
to  laugh.  Proclamations  !  we  know  what  they  are 
worth  now.  They  pillage  and  rob  everything, 
make  forced  contributions,  carry  off  the  horses, 
cows,  oxen,  and  carts." 

"  Nonsense  !  impossible  !  What  are  you  talking 
about  ?  "  said  Materne.  "  You  astound  me !  Such 
worthy  people,  such  good  friends,  the  saviours  of 
France.  I  cannot  believe  you.  Such  a  beautiful 
proclamation  as  it  was." 

"  Well,  go  down  to  Alsace,  and  you  will  see." 

The  poor  creatures  went  on,  shaking  their  heads 
in  extreme  indignation,  and  he  laughed  slyly. 

The  farther  Materne  advanced,  the  number  of 
herds  became  greater.  There  were  not  only  troops 
of  cattle  bellowing  and  lowing,  but  flocks  of  geese, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  screeching  and  cack- 
ling, dragging  themselves  along  the  road  with  wings 
spread  and  half-frozen  feet :  it  was  piteous  to  see. 

It  was  worse  still  on  approaching  Schirmeck.  The 
people  were  flying  in  crowds,  with  their  great  wag- 
ons loaded  with  barrels,  smoked  meats,  furniture, 
women  and  children.  They  were  lashing  their 
horses  almost  to  death  on  the  road,  and  screaming  in 


THE   LANDLORD  147 

terrified  voices  :  "  We  are  lost  ;  the  Cossacks  are 
coming." 

The  cry  of  "  The  Cossacks!  the  Cossacks  !  "  ran 
along  the  whole  line  like  a  puff  of  wind ;  the  women 
turned  round  open-mouthed,  and  the  children  stood 
up  on  the  wagons  to  get  a  better  view.  You  never 
beheld  anything  like  it  before  ;  and  Materne, 
angered,  blushed  for  the  terror  of  these  people,  who 
might  have  defended  themselves;  while  selfishness 
and  their  desire  to  save  their  property,  made  them 
fly  like  cowards. 

At  the  crossing  of  the  Fond-des-Saules  quite  close 
to  Schirmeck,  Kasper  and  Frantz  rejoined  their 
father,  and  the  three  entered  the  "  Golden  Key  " 
tavern,  kept  by  the  Widow  Faltaux,  on  the  right 
side  of  the  road.  The  poor  woman  and  her  two 
daughters  were  watching  from  a  window  the  great 
migration  with  streaming  eyes  and  clasped  hands. 

In  fact,  the  tumult  increased  every  minute  ;  the 
cattle,  wagons,  and  people  seemed  eager  to  get  away 
over  each  other's  shoulders.  They  no  longer  had 
any  command  of  themselves  :  they  were  howling 
ajid  striking  about  them  in  their  desire  to  escape. 

Materne  pushed  the  door  open,  and  seeing  the 
women  more  dead  than  alive,  white  and  dishevelled, 
he  shouted,  striking  his  stick  on  the  ground  : 
"What,  mother,  have  you  too  gone  mad?  What  ! 


I48     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

you,  who  owe  a  good  example  to  your  daughters,— 
have  you  lost  courage  ?  it  is  a  shame." 

The  old  woman  turned  round  and  said  in  a  broken 
voice  :  "  Ah,  my  poor  Materne,  if  you  only  knew — 
if  you  only  knew  !  " 

"  Well,  what  then?  The  enemy  is  coming:  they 
won't  eat  you." 

"  No  ;  but  they  devour  everything  without 
mercy.  Old  Ursula,  of  Schlestadt,  came  here  yes- 
terday evening.  She  says  that  the  Austrians  only 
want  '  Knopf  e '  and  ( Nudel,'  the  Russians 
'  Schnapps,'  and  the  Bavarians  '  Sauerkraut/  And 
when  they  have  stuffed  all  that  down  their  throats, 
they  cry  out  with  their  mouths  still  full,  '  Schocolat ! 
schocolat  ! '  O  Lord,  how  can  we  feed  all  these 
people  ? " 

"  I  know  well  that  is  difficult,"  said  the  old  hunt- 
er: "  you  can  never  satisfy  a  jay  with  white  cheese. 
But,  first  of  all,  where  are  these  Cossacks,  these  Ba- 
varians, these  Austrians?  All  the  way  from 
Grandfontaine  we  have  not  met  even  one." 

"  They  are  in  Alsace,  on  the  TJrmatt  side,  and 
they  are  coming  here." 

"  While  waiting  for  them,"  said  Kasper,  "  give 
us  a  bottle  of  wine.  Here  is  a  three-crown  piece  : 
you  will  hide  it  easier  than  your  barrels." 

One  of  the  girls  went  to  the  cellar,  and,  at  the 


THE   LANDLORD  149 

same  time,  several  other  persons  entered:  an  alma- 
nac-seller from  Strasbourg,  a  wagoner  from  Sarre- 
briick  in  a  blouse,  and  two  or  three  townspeople 
from  Mutzig,  Wisch,  and  Schirmeck,  who  were  fly- 
ing with  their  herds,  and  were  exhausted  with  shout- 
ing. 

All  sat  down  at  the  same  table,  before  the  win- 
dows overlooking  the  road.  Wine  was  served  them, 
and  each  began  to  relate  what  he  knew.  One  said 
the  allies  were  in  such  numbers  that  they  had  to 
sleep  side  by  side  in  the  valley  of  Hirschenthal,  and 
they  were  so  covered  with  vermin  that,  after  their 
departure,  the  dead  leaves  walked  of  themselves  in 
the  woods  ;  another,  that  the  Cossacks  had  set  fire 
to  a  village  in  Alsace,  because  they  had  been  refused 
candles  for  dessert  after  dinner  ;  that  some  of  them, 
especially  the  Calmucks,  ate  soap  like  cheese  and 
bacon-rind  like  cake  ;  that  many  drank  brandy  by 
the  pint,  after  having  taken  care  to  season  it  with 
handfuls  of  pepper  ;  and  that  it  was  necessary  to 
hide  everything  from  them,  for  nothing  came  amiss 
to  them  for  eating  and  drinking. 

The  wagoner  said,  at  this  point,  that  three  days 
before,  a  Kussian  corps-d'armee  having  passed  the 
night  under  the  ramparts  of  Bitsch,  it  had  been 
compelled  to  remain  more  than  an  hour  on  the  ice 
in  the  little  village  of  Rorbach,  and  that  the  whole 


I5o     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

of  this  army  corps  had  drunk  out  of  a  warming-pan 
left  on  the  window-sill  of  an  old  woman's  house  ; 
that  this  race  of  savages  broke  the  ice  to  bathe,  and 
afterward  crept  into  the  brick-kilns  to  dry;  lastly, 
that  they  only  feared  Corporal  Knout. 

These  worthy  folks  communicated  such  singular 
things  to  each  other,  which  they  pretended  to  have 
seen  with  their  own  eyes,  or  heard  from  trustworthy 
sources,  that  one  could  with  difficulty  believe  them. 

Outside,  the  tumult,  rolling  of  wagons,  lowing 
of  herds,  shouts  of  the  drivers,  and  clamors  of  the 
fugitives,  continued  unceasingly,  and  produced  the 
effect  of  a  vast  murmur. 

Toward  noon  Materne  and  his  sons  were  going  to 
leave,  when  a  more  prolonged  shout  than  any  of  the 
others  was  heard :  "  The  Cossacks !  the  Cossacks !  " 

Then  everybody  rushed  outside,  except  the  hunt- 
ers, who  contented  themselves  with  opening  a  win- 
dow and  looking  out  :  they  all  ran  away  across  the 
fields  :  men,  herds,  wagons  and  all,  were  dispersed 
like  leaves  in  autumn.  In  less  than  two  minutes 
the  road  was  deserted,  except  in  Schirmeck,  which 
was  so  encumbered,  that  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible to  walk  four  steps.  Materne,  gazing  far  away 
along  the  road,  cried,  "  I  look  in  vain — I  can  see 
nothing." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  rejoined  Kasper. 


THE   LANDLORD  151 

"  Come,  come,"  cried  the  old  hunter,  "  I  see 
clearly  that  the  fear  of  all  these  people  gives  more 
strength  to  the  enemy  than  he  in  fact  possesses.  It 
is  not  in  such  a  way  we  shall  receive  the  Cossacks  in 
the  mountains  ;  they  will  find  who  they  have  to 
deal  with." 

Then,  shrugging  his  shoulders  with  an  expression 
of  disgust,  he  said  :  "  Fear  is  an  odious  thing,  and 
after  all  we  have  only  one  poor  life  to  lose.  Let  us 
go." 

They  quitted  the  inn.  and  the  old  man  having 
taken  the  road  to  the  valley,  in  order  to  climb  the 
summit  of  the  Hirschberg  in  front  of  them,  his  sons 
followed  him.  They  soon  reached  the  outskirts  of 
the  wood,  when  Materne  said  that  they  must  mount 
as  high  as  possible,  so  as  to  see  the  whole  plain,  and 
bring  back  some  positive  news  to  the  bivouac  ;  that 
all  the  accounts  of  those  cowards  were  not  worth  one 
good  look  by  themselves. 

Kasper  and  Frantz  agreed,  and  all  three  began 
to  climb  the  slope,  which  forms  a  sort  of  advanced 
promontory  commanding  the  plain.  When  they 
reached  the  peak  they  distinctly  saw  the  enemy's 
position,  three  leagues  distant,  between  TJrmatt  and 
Lutzelhouse.  They  formed  great  black  lines  on  the 
snow  :  farther  off  were  a  few  dark  masses — no 
doubt,  the  artillery  and  baggage.  .Other 


152     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

surrounded  the  villages,  and,  notwithstanding  the 
distance,  the  sparkling  of  the  bayonets  announced 
that  a  column  had  just  commenced  marching  toward 
Visch. 

After  having  contemplated  this  spectacle  in  si- 
lence for  some  minutes,  the  old  man  said,  "  We 
have  decidedly  thirty  thousand  men  under  our  eyes. 
They  are  advancing  in  our  direction  ;  we  shall  be 
attacked  to-morrow,  or  the  day  after  at  the  latest. 
It  will  not  be  a  trumpery  affair,  my  boys  ;  but  if 
they  are  numerous  we  have  the  best  of  the  position. 
And  then  it  is  always  agreeable  to  fire  into  a  heap  ; 
there  are  no  balls  lost." 

Having  made  these  judicious  reflections,  he 
looked  at  the  height  of  the  sun,  and  added  :  "  It  is 
now  two  o'clock  ;  we  know  all  we  want.  Let  us  re- 
turn to  the  bivouac." 

The  youths  slung  their  carbines  crossways,  and 
leaving  to  their  left  the  valley  of  the  Brocque, 
Schirmeck,  and  Framont,  they  climbed  the  steep 
banks  of  the  Hengsbach,  which  overlook  the  Little 
Donon — two  leagues  distant — and  came  down  again 
on  the  other  side,  without  following  any  regular 
path  through  the  snow,  and  only  guiding  themselves 
by  the  peaks  in  order  to  take  a  short  cut. 

They  continued  thus  for  about  two  hours  :  the 
\miter  sun  was  going  down  to  the  horizon,  night  was 


THE   LANDLORD  153 

approaching,  bright  and  calm.  They  had  now  only 
to  descend,  and  then  mount,  on  the  other  side,  the 
solitary  gorge  of  Kiel,  forming  a  large  circular  basin 
in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  and  enclosing  a  bluish 
pond,  where  the  deer  came  sometimes  to  quench 
their  thirst. 

Suddenly,  as  they  were  coming  out  from  the  un- 
derwood, not  dreaming  of  anything,  the  old  man, 
stopping  behind  a  thick  screen  of  shrubs,  said 
"  Chut  !  "  and  lifting  his  hand,  pointed  to  the  little 
lake,  which  was  covered  with  thin  clear  ice. 

The  two  young  fellows  needed  only  to  glance  tow- 
ard it  to  be  greeted  by  a  most  strange  sight.  About 
twenty  Cossacks,  with  yellow  shaggy  beards,  heads 
covered  with  old  fur  caps  in  the  shape  of  stove-pipes, 
their  lean  legs  draped  in  long  rags,  and  their  feet  in 
rope  stirrups,  were  seated  on  their  little  horses,  with 
long  floating  manes  and  thin  tails,  their  bodies  spec- 
kled yellow,  black  and  white,  like  goats.  Some  had 
for  their  only  weapon  a  long  lance,  others  a  sword, 
others  an  axe  suspended  by  a  cord  to  their  saddle, 
and  a  large  horse-pistol  passed  through  their  belts. 
Several  were  looking  upward  with  ecstasy  on  the 
green  tops  of  the  pines,  rising  by  stages  above  each 
other  into  the  clouds.  One  great  lanky  fellow  had 
broken  the  ice  with  the  butt-end  of  his  lance  ;  and 
his  little  horse  was  drinking  with  outstretched  neck 


I54     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

and  overhanging  mane.  A  few  having  dismount- 
ed, were  clearing  the  snow  and  pointing  to  the  wood 
— no  doubt  to  indicate  that  it  was  a  good  place  for 
encamping.  Their  comrades  on  horseback  were 
conversing  and  pointing  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley 
on  their  right,  which  descends  in  the  form  of  a  gap 
toward  Grinderwald. 

Anyway  it  was  a  halt.  It  is  impossible  to  de- 
scribe the  strange  and  picturesque  aspect  of  these 
fellows  from  a  strange  country,  with  their  copper- 
'  colored  faces,  long  beards,  black  eyes,  flat  heads, 
squat  noses,  and  grayish  tatters,  on  the  banks  of  this 
lake,  under  the  lofty  perpendicular  rocks  lifting 
up  their  green  pines  to  the  skies.  . 

It  seemed  a  new  world  in  ours, — a  sort  of  un- 
known and  strange  game,  which  the  three  red  hunt- 
ers at  first  contemplated  with  intense  interest.  Hav- 
ing remained  so  for  about  five  minutes,  Kasper  and 
Frantz  fixed  their  long  bayonets  at  the  muzzle  of 
their  carbines,  and  then  retired  about  twenty  paces 
into  the  underwood.  They  reached  a  rock,  fifteen 
or  twenty  feet  high,  which  Materne  climbed,  having 
no  arms  ;  then,  after  a  few  words  exchanged  in 
whispers,  Kasper  examined  his  priming  and  raised 
his  musket  slowly  to  his  shoulder,  while  his  brother 
stood  by  in  readiness. 

One  of  the  Cossacks— he  who  was  letting  his 


THE   LANDLORD  155 

horse  drink — was  about  two  hundred  paces  from 
them.  The  gun  went  off,  awakening  the  deep 
echoes  of  the  gorge  ;  and  the  Cossack,  spinning 
over  his  horse's  head,  plunged  through  the  ice  of  the 
lake. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  stupor  of  the  party 
at  this  report.  They  looked  round  them  in  every 
direction  :  the  echo  replied  as  though  it  had  been  a 
general  fusillade  ;  while  a  puff  of  smoke  rose  above 
the  clump  of  trees  where  the  hunters  were  hiding. 

Kasper  had  reloaded  his  piece  in  a  moment  ;  but 
in  the  same  space  of  time  the  dismounted  Cossacks 
had  bounded  on  their  horses,  and  all  took  flight  over 
the  slope  of  the  Hartz,  one  after  the  other,  like  roe- 
bucks, screaming  wildly,  "  Hourah  !  hourah  !  " 

This  flight  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  :  the 
instant  Kasper  took  aim  for  the  second  time,  the  tail 
of  the  last  horse  disappeared  in  the  bushes. 

The  horse  of  the  dead  Cossack  alone  remained  at 
the  water's  edge,  held  there  by  a  singular  circum- 
stance :  his  master,  whose  head  and  part  of  whose 
body  was  in  the  water,  had  his  foot  still  in  the  stir- 
rup. 

Materne  listened  from  his  rock,  then  said  joyous- 
ly— "  They  are  gone  !  Well,  let  us  go  and  see. 
Frantz,  remain  here.  Suppose  any  of  them  should 
return V9 


156     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Notwithstanding  this  recommendation,  they 
all  three  approached  near  the  horse.  Materne 
immediately  took  the  bridle,  saying: — "  Come, 
old  fellow,  we  are  going  to  teach  you  to  speak 
French." 

"  Let  us  be  off,"  exclaimed  Kasper. 

"  No,  we  must  see  what  we  have  shot.  Don't 
you  see  that  will  be  good  for  our  comrades?  Dogs 
who  have  not  sniffed  the  skin  of  the  game  are  never 
well  trained." 

Whereupon  they  fished  the  Cossack  out  of  the 
pool,  and  having  placed  him  across  the  horse,  be- 
gan to  climb  the  side  of  the  Donon  by  such  a  steep 
path,  that  Materne  repeated,  a  hundred  times  at 
least, — "  The  horse  will  never  go  up  there."  But 
the  horse,  with  its  long  goat-like  legs,  passed  more 
easily  than  they  did  ;  so  that  the  old  hunter  wound 
up  by  remarking — "  These  Cossacks  have  famous 
horses.  If  ever  I  grow  old,  I  will  keep  him  to  go 
after  the  deer  with.  We  have  a  famous  horse,  my 
boys  ;  with  all  his  look  of  a  cow,  he  is  strong  as  a 
cart-horse." 

From  time  to  time  he  also  made  reflections  on  the 
Cossack  : — "  What  a  queer  face,  eh  !  A  round 
nose  and  a  forehead  like  a  cheese-box.  There  are 
certainly  queer  folks  in  the  world  !  Thou  hast  hit 
him  well,  Kasper  ;  right  in  the  middle  of  the  chest. 


THE    LANDLORD  157 

And  look  !  the  ball  came  out  at  the  back.  Capital 
powder  !  Dives  always  keeps  good  articles." 

Toward  six  they  heard  the  first  shout  of  their 
sentinels  :  "  Who  goes  there?  " 

"  France,"  replied  Materne,  advancing. 

Everybody  ran  to  meet  them.  "  Here  is  Ma- 
terne !  " 

Hullin  himself  was  as  curious  as  the  rest,  and 
could  not  help  hastening  toward  them  with  Doctor 
Lorquin.  The  partisans  were  soon  collected  round 
the  horse,  with  outstretched  necks  and  open  mouths, 
by  the  side  of  a  large  fire  where  the  supper  was  cook- 
ing. 

"  It  is  a  Cossack,"  said  Hullin,  squeezing  Ma- 
terne's  hand. 

"  Yes,  Jean-Claude  ;  we  caught  him  at  the  pond 
of  Eiel  :  it  was  Kasper  who  shot  him." 

They  stretched  the  corpse  out  near  the  fire.  His 
yellow  face  had  strange  shadows  on  it  in  the  fire- 
light. 

Doctor  Lorquin,  having  looked  at  him,  said  :  "  It 
is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  Tartar  race  ;  if  I  had  time, 
I  should  put  it  in  a  lime-bath,  so  as  to  obtain  a  skele- 
ton of  this  tribe." 

He  then  knelt  down,  and  opening  the  long  tunic, 
— "  The  ball  has  traversed  the  pericardium,  and  has 
produced  almost  the  same  effect  as  aneurism  of  the 
heart." 


158     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

The  others  kept  silence. 

Kasper,  with  his  hand  on  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle, 
seemed  quite  contented  with  his  game  ;  and  old  Ma- 
terne,  rubbing  his  hands,  said  :  "  I  was  sure  I  would 
bring  you  back  something  :  my  boys  and  I  never 
return  empty-handed.  There  now  !  " 

Hullin  then  pulled  him  aside.  They  entered  the 
farm  together,  and  after  the  first  surprise  was  over, 
every  man  began  to  make  his  own  personal  reflec- 
tions on  the  Cossack. 


CHAPTER  xrn 

BOUND  THE  WATCHFIEES 

THAT  night,  which  was  on  a  Friday,  the  anabap- 
tist's little  farm-house  never  ceased  for  an  instant  to 
be  filled  with  people  coming  in  and  going  out. 

Hullin  had  established  his  head-quarters  in  the 
large  room  on  the  ground  floor,  to  the  right  of  the 
barn,  facing  Framont  :  on  the  other  side  of  the 
passage  was  the  ambulance  :  the  upper  part  was  in- 
habited by  the  farm  people. 

Although  the  night  was  very  still  and  the  stars 
were  shining  in  myriads,  the  cold  was  so  intense  that 
there  was  nearly  an  inch  of  ice  on  the  panes. 

Outside,  one  could  hear  the  challenge  of  the  senti- 
nel, the  passing  of  the  patrols,  and,  on  the  surround- 
ing peaks,  the  howling  of  the  wolves,  who  followed 
our  armies  in  hundreds  since  1812.  These  wild 
beasts  crouched  on  the  ice,  their  sharp  muzzles  be- 
tween their  paws,  with  hunger  at  their  entrails,  call- 
ing each  other,  from  the  Grosmann  to  the  Donon, 
with  moaning  sounds  like  that  of  the  north  wind. 
159 


160     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

It  made  more  than  one  mountaineer  grow  pale. 

"  It  is  Death  who  calls,"  thought  they  ;  "  he 
scents  the  battle,  he  summons  us  1  " 

The  oxen  lowed  in  the  stables,  and  the  horses  gave 
frightful  neighs. 

About  thirty  fires  blazed  on  the  plateau  ;  all  the 
anabaptist's  wood  was  taken  ;  fagots  were  heaped 
one  upon  another.  Their  faces  were  scorched,  and 
their  backs  frozen  ;  they  warmed  their  backs,  and 
the  ice  hung  from  their  mustaches. 

Hullin,  alone,  before  the  great  pinewood  table, 
was  taking  thought  for  all.  According  to  the  latest 
tidings  of  the  evening,  announcing  the  arrival  of  the 
Cossacks  at  Framont,  he  was  convinced  that  the  first 
attack  would  take  place  the  next  day.  He  had  dis- 
tributed cartridges,  doubled  the  sentries,  appointed 
patrols,  and  marked  all  the  posts  along  the  outworks. 
Every  one  knew  beforehand  what  place  he  was  to 
occupy. 

Hullin  had  also  sent  orders  to  Piorette,  Jerome 
of  St.  Quirin,  and  Labarbe,  to  send  him  their  best 
marksmen. 

The  little  dark  pathway,  lit  by  a  dim  lantern, 
was  full  of  snow,  and  passing  under  the  immov- 
able light  every  instant  one  could  see  the  chiefs  of 
the  ambush,  with  their  hats  pressed  down  to  their 
ears,  the  ample  sleeves  of  their  great-coats  pulled 


ROUND   THE   WATCHFIRES  161 

down  over  their  wrists,  with  their  dark  eyes  and 
beards  stiffened  with  ice. 

Pluto  no  longer  growled  at  the  heavy  step  of 
these  men.  Hullin,  with  his  head  between  his 
hands  and  his  elbows  on  the  table,  listened  thought- 
fully to  all  their  reports: — 

"  Master  Jean-Claude,  there  is  a  movement  in 
the  direction  of  Grandf ontaine ;  and  the  sounds  of 
galloping  are  distinguishable." 

"  Master  Jean-Claude,  the  brandy  is  frozen." 

"  Master  Jean-Claude,  many  of  the  men  are  in 
want  of  powder." 

"  They  are  in  want  of  this:  they  are  in  want  of 
that." 

"  Let  some  one  be  sent  to  watch  Grandfontaine, 
and  let  the  sentries  on  that  side  be  changed  every 
half-hour."  "  Let  the  brandy  be  brought  to  the 
fire."  "  Wait  until  Dives  comes:  he  brings  us  am- 
munition. Let  the  remainder  of  the  cartridges  be 
distributed.  Let  those  who  have  more  than  twenty 
give  some  to  their  comrades." 

And  so  it  went  on  all  the  night. 

At  five  in  the  morning,  Kasper,  Materne's  son, 
came  to  tell  Hullin  that  Marc  Dives,  with  a  load 
of  cartridges,  Catherine  Lefevre  on  a  cart,  and  a  de- 
tachment from  Labarbe,  had  just  arrived  together, 
and  that  they  were  already  on  the  plateau. 

IX 


i62     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

The  tidings  pleased  him,  especially  on  account 
of  the  cartridges,  for  he  had  feared  delay. 

He  immediately  rose  and  went  out  with  Kas- 
per.  The  plateau  presented  a  curious  spectacle. 

On  the  approach  of  day,  clouds  of  mist  began 
to  rise  from  the  valley,  the  fires  hissed  with  the 
damp,  and  all  around  could  be  seen  sleeping  men: 
one  stretched  on  his  back,  with  his  arms  thrown 
under  his  hat,  a  blue  face,  and  doubled-up  legs; 
another  with  his  cheek  on  his  arm  and  his  back  to 
the  fire;  the  greater  number  seated,  with  bent 
heads  and  their  muskets  slung  across  their  shoul- 
ders. All  was  silent,  wrapped  in  purple  light  or 
gray  tints,  just  as  the  fire  blazed  or  smouldered. 
Then,  in  the  distance,  could  be  discerned  the  pro- 
file of  the  sentinels,  with  their  muskets  across  their 
arms  or  clubbed  upon  the  ground,  gazing  into  the 
cloud-filled  abyss  beneath  them. 

To  the  right,  fifty  paces  from  the  last  fire,  could 
be  heard  the  neighing  of  horses,  and  people  stamp- 
ing with  their  feet  to  warm  themselves,  and  talk- 
ing aloud. 

"  Master  Jean-Claude  is  coming,"  said  Kasper, 
going  toward  them. 

One  of  the  partisans  having  thrown  a  few  sticks 
of  dry  wood  on  to  the  fire,  there  was  a  bright  blaze; 
and  Marc  Dives's  men  on  horseback,  twelve  tall  f el- 


ROUND   THE   WATCHFIRES  163 

lows,  wrapped  in  their  long  gray  cloaks,  their  felts 
slouched  back  over  their  shoulders,  with  their  long 
mustaches  either  turned  up  or  falling  down  to  their 
necks,  their  sabres  in  their  grasp,  stood  motionless 
round  the  load  of  cartridges.  Farther  on  Catherine 
Lefevre  crouched  down  in  her  cart,  her  hood  over 
her  face,  her  feet  in  the  straw,  her  back  against  a 
large  barrel.  Behind  her  was  a  caldron,  a  grid- 
iron, a  fresh-killed  pig,  scalded  all  white  and  red, 
with  some  strings  of  onions  and  cabbages  for  mak- 
ing soup.  All  stood  out  of  the  darkness  for  a  sec- 
ond, and  then  relapsed  into  night. 

Dives,  having  quitted  the  convoy,  advanced  on 
his  powerful  horse. 

"  Is  it  you,  Jean-Claude?  " 

"  Yes,  Marc." 

"  I  have  some  few  thousand  cartridges  there. 
Hexe-Baizel  is  working  day  and  night." 

"Good!" 

"Yes,  old  fellow.  And  Catherine  Lefevre 
brings  provisions  as  well;  she  killed  yesterday." 

"  All  right,  Marc:  we  shall  want  all  that.  The 
battle  is  impending." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  thought  so;  we  came  quickly. 
Where  is  the  powder  to  be  put?  " 

"  There,  under  the  cart-house  behind  the  farm. 
Ah,  is  that  you,  Catherine? " 


164     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Of  course,  Jean-Claude.  It  is  dreadfully  cold 
this  morning!  " 

"  You  are  always  the  same.    Have  you  no  fear?  " 

"  What !  should  I  be  a  woman  if  I  were  not 
curious?  I  must  poke  my  nose  everywhere." 

"  Yes,  you  always  make  excuses  for  the  fine  and 
noble  things  you  do." 

"  Hullin,  you  are  wearisome  with  your  repeti- 
tions; let  me  alone  with  your  compliments.  Must 
not  all  those  people  eat?  Can  they  live  on  air  in 
such  weather  as  this?  And  is  not  air  fattening  on 
a  day  so  cold — like  needles  and  razors.  So  I  took 
my  measures.  Yesterday  we  slaughtered  an  ox — 
poor  Schwartz,  you  know — he  weighed  a  good  nine 
hundred.  I  have  brought  his  hind-quarters  for  this 
morning's  soup." 

"  Catherine,  it  is  in  vain  I  have  known  you  so 
long,"  cried  Jean-Claude,  quite  touched ;  "  you  are 
always  astonishing  me.  No  sacrifice  is  too  great 
for  you,  neither  money,  care,  nor  trouble." 

"  Ah,"  replied  the  old  farm-wife,  rising  and 
springing  from  her  cart,  "  you  tease  and  worry  me, 
Jean-Claude.  I  am  going  to  warm  myself." 

She  gave  Dubourg  the  reins  of  her  horse,  and 
looking  back,  said,  "  Jean-Claude,  those  fires  are  a 
pleasure  to  behold.  But  where  is  Louise?  " 

"  Louise  spent  the  night  cutting  and  sewing 


ROUND   THE   WATCHFIRES  165 

bandages  with  Pelsly's  two  daughters.  She  is  at 
the  ambulance :  over  there  you  see,  where  the  light 
is  shining." 

"  Poor  child!  "  said  Catherine,  "  I  will  go  and 
help  her.  That  will  warm  me." 

Hullin  watched  her  retreating  figure,  and  made 
a  gesture,  as  though  saying,  "  What  a  woman!  " 

At  this  moment,  Dives  and  his  people  were 
carrying  the  powder  into  the  shed,  and  as  Jean- 
Claude  approached  the  nearest  fire,  what  was  his 
surprise  to  see,  among  the  crowd  of  partisans,  Ye- 
gof  the  madman,  crowned  as  usual,  gravely  seated 
on  a  stone,  with  his  feet  in  the  ashes,  and  draped  in 
his  rags  as  though  they  were  a  royal  mantle. 

Anything  more  strange  than  this  figure  by  the 
fire-light  could  not  be  imagined.  Yegof  was  the 
only  one  awake  of  the  crowd,  and  might  readily 
have  been  taken  for  some  barbarian  king  musing 
in  the  midst  of  his  sleeping  horde. 

Hullin  only  saw  in  him  a  madman,  and  laying 
his  hand  softly  on  his  shoulder,  said,  ironically: 

"  I  salute  thee,  Yegof!  Thou  art  come,  then,  to 
lend  us  the  help  of  thy  invincible  arm  and  of  thy 
countless  armies? " 

The  madman,  without  showing  the  least  sur- 
prise, replied :  "  That  depends  on  thee,  Hullin;  thy 
fate,  and  that  of  all  these  people,  is  in  thy  hands. 


166     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

I  have  suspended  my  anger,  and  I  will  allow  thee 
to  pronounce  sentence." 

"  What  sentence?  "    demanded  Jean-Claude. 

The  other,  without  replying,  continued,  in  a  low 
solemn  voice:  "Behold  us  two  on  the  eve  of  a 
great  battle,  as  we  were  sixteen  hundred  years  ago. 
At  that  time,  I,  the  chief  of  so  many  people,  came 
among  thy  tribe  to  ask  a  passage." 

"  Sixteen  hundred  years  ago! "  said  Hullin. 
"Zounds!  Yegof,  that  makes  us  terribly  old!  But 
it  is  of  no  consequence — each  to  his  taste." 

"  Yes,"  rejoined  the  madman,  "  but,  with  thy 
usual  obstinacy,  thou  wouldst  hear  nothing.  Men 
died  on  the  Blutfeld — men  who  now  call  for  ven- 
geance! " 

"  Ah,  the  Blutfeld!  "  said  Jean-Claude.  "  Yes, 
yes,  an  old  story;  I  seem  to  have  heard  it  before." 

Yegof  reddened,  and  his  eyes  sparkled. 

"Thou  pridest  thyself  on  thy  victory!"  cried 
he;  "but  take  care — take  care!  blood  calls  for 
blood!  "  And  in  a  calmer  tone,  "  Listen,"  he  add- 
ed. "  I  am  not  angry  with  thee.  Thou  art  brave ; 
the  children  of  thy  race  might  mingle  with  those 
of  mine.  I  am  anxious  for  an  alliance  with  thee — 
thou  knowest  it." 

"  There,  he  is  going  to  begin  about  Louise," 
thought  Jean-Claude.  And,  foreseeing  a  formal 


ROUND   THE  WATCHFIRES  167 

demand,  he  said :  "  Yegof ,  I  am  sorry,  but  I  must 
leave  thee.  I  have  so  much  to  see  after " 

The  madman  did  not  wait  the  end  of  this  leave- 
taking,  and  rising,  with  his  face  distorted  by  indig- 
nation, "  Thou  refusest  me  thy  daughter? "  cried 
he,  lifting  his  finger  solemnly. 

"  We  will  talk  of  that  later  on." 

"Thou  refusest!" 

"  Yegof,  thy  shouts  will  awaken  every  one." 

"Thou  refusest,  and  it  is  for  the  third  time! 
Beware !  beware !  " 

Hullin,  despairing  of  making  him  become  more 
reasonable,  walked  rapidly  away,  but  the  madman 
furiously  pursued  him  with  these  strange  words: 

"Huldrix,  woe  on  thee!  Thy  last  hour  is  at 
hand;  the  wolves  are  coming  to  feed  upon  thy  car- 
cass. All  is  over.  I  let  loose  the  tempests  of  my 
wrath;  and  neither  to  thee  nor  thine  shall  mercy, 
pity,  or  pardon  be  shown.  Thou  hast  so  willed  it." 

And,  flinging  his  rags  over  his  shoulder,  the  poor 
wretch  went  away  in  the  direction  of  the  peak  of 
Donon. 

Some  of  the  volunteers,  awakened  by  his  cries, 
looked  up  drowsily,  and  saw  him  disappearing  in 
the  darkness.  They  heard  the  fluttering  of  wings 
round  the  fire;  then,  as  though  it  were  a  dream, 
they  turned  round  and  fell  asleep  again. 


168     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

About  an  hour  later,  Lagarmitte  sounded  the 
reveille;  and  in  a  few  minutes  all  were  on  their 
feet. 

The  chiefs  of  the  ambuscade  collected  their  men: 
some  went  toward  the  shed,  to  obtain  cartridges; 
others  filled  their  gourds  with  brandy  from  the  cask. 
All  this  was  done  in  good  order,  their  chiefs  being 
at  the  head  of  each  body  of  men;  then  the  several 
companies  disappeared  in  the  gray  morning  light 
toward  the  out-posts  on  the  hill-sides. 

When  the  sun  rose,  the  plateau  was  quite  de- 
serted, and,  with  the  exception  of  five  or  six  fires 
which  were  still  burning,  there  was  no  sign  that 
the  partisans  were  in  possession  of  all  the  posts  on 
the  mountain,  or  in  what  place  they  had  passed  the 
night. 

Hullin  hurriedly  ate  a  crust  and  drank  a  glass 
of  wine  with  his  friends  Doctor  Lorquin  and  Pelsly 
the  anabaptist. 

Lagarmitte  was  with  them,  for  he  was  not  al- 
lowed to  leave  Master  Jean-Claude  all  day,  and 
had  to  transmit  his  orders  in  case  of  need. 


CHAPTEE  XIV 
"FORWARD!  FORWARD!" 

AT  seven  o'clock  there  was  no  sign  of  any  move- 
ment in  the  valley. 

From  time  to  time,  Doctor  Lorquin  opened  one 
of  the  windows  in  the  large  room  and  looked  out. 
Nothing  was  stirring;  the  fires  had  smouldered 
away;  all  was  still. 

In  front  of  the  farm,  on  a  bank,  about  a  hun- 
dred feet  distant,  the  Cossack  could  be  seen  who 
had  been  killed  the  previous  evening  by  Kasper. 
He  was  white  with  the  frost,  and  as  hard  as  a  stone. 

In  the  interior,  a  fire  had  been  made  in  the  great 
iron  stove. 

Louise  sat  near  her  father,  looking  at  him  with 
an  inexpressible  affection,  as  though  she  feared 
never  to  see  him  again.  Her  red  eyes  showed  that 
she  had  been  crying. 

Hullin,  though  firm,  looked  not  a  little  moved. 
The  doctor  and  the  anabaptist,  both  grave  and  seri- 
ous, talked  over  the  present  position  of  affairs,  and 

X6q 


1 7o     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Lagarmitte,  from  behind  the  stove,  listened  to  them 
with  deep  interest. 

"  "We  are  not  only  right,  but  it  is  our  duty  to 
defend  ourselves,"  said  the  doctor.  "  Our  fathers 
cleared  these  woods  and  cultivated  them:  they  are 
our  legitimate  inheritance." 

"  No  doubt,"  returned  the  anabaptist,  senten- 
tiously;  "  but  it  is  written,  '  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 
Thou  shalt  not  shed  thy  brother's  blood! '  " 

Catherine  Lefevre,  who  was  in  the  act  of  cut- 
ting a  slice  of  ham,  evidently  felt  impatient  at  this 
conversation,  and,  turning  round  sharply,  replied 
to  him :  "  If  that  were  true,  and  your  religion  were 
right,  the  Germans,  Russians,  and  all  these  red  men 
might  take  the  clothes  off  our  backs.  'Tis  fine, 
that  religion  of  yours;  yes,  fine,  for  it  gives  the 
rogues  such  an  advantage!  It  helps  them  to  pil- 
lage people  of  substance.  I  am  sure  the  allies  would 
wish  for  us  no  better  religion  than  yours.  Unfort- 
unately, everybody  does  not  care  to  live  like  sheep. 
As  for  me,  Pelsly — and  I  say  it  without  wishing  to 
annoy  you — I  consider  it  folly  to  grow  rich  for  the 
benefit  of  others.  But,  after  all,  you  are  honest 
folks;  one  cannot  be  angry  with  you:  you  have 
been  brought  up  from  father  to  son  in  the  same 
notions:  what  the  grandfather  thought,  the  grand- 
son thinks  also.  But  we  will  defend  you  in  spite 


"FORWARD!   FORWARD!"  171 

of  yourselves;  and  afterward  we  will  let  you  tell 
us  of  the  peace  eternal.  I  am  fond  of  discourses 
on  peace,  when  I  have  nothing  else  to  do,  and  when 
I  am  thinking  after  dinner:  then  it  rejoices  my 
heart." 

After  having  said  this,  she  turned  round  and 
went  on  carving  her  ham. 

Pelsly  opened  his  mouth  and  eyes,  and  Doctor 
Lorquin  burst  out  laughing. 

Just  then  the  door  opened,  and  one  of  the  sen- 
tries who  had  been  stationed  on  the  edge  of  the 
plateau,  cried  out,  "  Master  Jean-Claude,  come  and 
see.  I  believe  they  are  mounting  the  hill." 

"  It  is  well,  Simon;  I  am  coming,"  said  Hullin, 
rising.  "  Louise,  kiss  me.  Have  courage,  my  child. 
Do  not  fear;  all  will  go  well." 

He  pressed  her  to  his  breast,  her  eyes  swollen 
with  tears.  She  seemed  more  dead  than  alive. 

"  Above  all,"  said  the  worthy  man,  addressing 
Catherine,  "  let  no  one  go  outside  or  near  the  win- 
dows." 

Then  he  darted  out  into  the  road. 

All  those  present  turned  pale. 

When  Master  Jean-Claude  had  reached  the  verge 
of  the  hill,  and  cast  his  eyes  over  Grandfontaine 
and  Framont,  three  thousand  metres  below,  the 
following  sight  presented  itself  to  his  eyes: 


172     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

The  Germans,  who  had  arrived  the  evening  be- 
fore, a  few  hours  after  the  Cossacks,  and  had  pass- 
ed the  night  (about  five  or  six  thousand  of  them)  in 
the  barns,  stables,  and  sheds,  were  moving  about 
like  ants.  They  appeared  on  all  sides  in  bodies  of 
ten,  fifteen,  and  twenty,  buckling  their  knapsacks 
and  swords,  and  fixing  their  bayonets. 

Besides  these,  the  cavalry — the  Uhlans,  Cos- 
sacks, Hussars — in  green,  blue,  and  gray  uniforms 
striped  with  red  and  yellow — with  their  glazed 
linen  and  sheepskin  caps,  colbacks,  and  helmets — 
were  saddling  their  horses  and  hastily  rolling  up 
their  long  cloaks. 

Meanwhile  the  officers,  in  their  great  military 
cloaks,  came  down  the  small  staircase:  some  were 
looking  up  at  the  country;  others  were  embracing 
the  women  on  the  doorsteps. 

Trumpeters,  with  their  hands  on  their  sides,  were 
sounding  the  roll-call  at  all  the  corners  of  the  streets, 
and  the  drummers  tightening  the  cords  of  their 
instruments. 

In  short,  through  the  broad  expanse,  one  could 
see  all  their  military  attitudes  as  they  were  on  the 
point  of  starting. 

A  few  peasants,  leaning  out  of  their  windows, 
were  watching  the  scene;  women  were  showing 
themselves  at  the  loopholes  of  the  garrets;  and  the 


•:^O^A  :-^i 

" 


KG  DUBREUIL,  THE  FKIEND  OV  THE  ALLIES. 


"FORWARD!    FORWARD!" 


173 


innkeepers  were  filling  the  gourds,  Corporal  Knout 
watching  them  meanwhile. 

Hulliu's  sight  was  keen,  and  nothing  escaped 
him;  besides,  for  years  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
this  sort  of  thing;  but  Lagarmitte,  who  had  never 
seen  anything  like  it,  was  stupefied:  "There  are 
great  numbers  of  them,"  he  exclaimed,  shaking  his 
head. 

"Bah!  what  does  that  matter?"  said  Hullin. 
"  In  my  days  we  exterminated  three  armies  of 
them,  of  fifty  thousand  each,  in  six  months;  we 
were  not  one  against  four.  All  that  thou  seest 
there  would  not  have  been  a  breakfast  for  us. 
And  besides,  you  may  be  sure,  we  shall  not  have 
to  kill  them  all;  they  will  run  like  hares.  I  have 
seen  it  before." 

After  these  remarks,  he  resolved  to  inspect 
his  men.  "  Come  on,"  he  said  to  the  herds- 
man. 

Then  the  two  made  their  way  behind  the  abatis, 
following  a  trench  made  two  days  before  in  the  snow, 
which  had  been  frozen  as  hard  as  ice:  the  felled 
trees  in  front  of  it,  formed  an  insurmountable  bar- 
rier, which  extended  about  six  hundred  metres. 
Below  this  was  the  broken-up  road. 

On  coming  near,  Jean-Claude  saw  the  moun- 
taineers of  Dagsburg  crouching  at  distances  of 


174     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

twenty  paces  from  each  other,  in  a  sort  of  round 
nests  which  they  had  dug  out  for  themselves. 

All  these  fine  fellows  were  sitting  on  their  knap- 
sacks, with  their  gourds  to  their  right  hand,  their 
felts  or  foxskin  caps  drawn  down  upon  their  heads, 
and  their  guns  between  their  knees.  They  had 
only  to  rise  to  have  a  clear  view  of  the  road  fifty 
feet  below,  at  the  foot  of  a  slippery  descent. 

Jean-Claude's  arrival  pleased  them  much. 

"  Ho,  Master  Hullin,  shall  we  soon  begin?  " 

"  Yes,  my  boys,  never  fear;  before  an  hour  we 
shall  be  at  it." 

"  Ah,  so  much  the  better!  " 

"Yes,  but  take  care  to  aim  at  the  breast:  do 
not  hurry,  and  show  yourselves  no  more  than  you 
can  help." 

"  You  may  rest  assured,  Master  Jean-Claude." 

He  passed  on;  but  everywhere  he  met  with  a 
like  reception. 

"  Do  not  forget,"  said  he,  "  to  stop  firing  when 
Lagarmitte  sounds  his  horn :  it  would  be  only  pow- 
der lost." 

Coming  up  to  old  Materne,  who  commanded  all 
these  men — numbering  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty — he  found  him  smoking  his  pipe,  his  nose  fiery 
red,  and  his  beard  stiffened  with  the  cold. 

"  Ah,  it  is  thou,  Jean-Claude." 


"FORWARD!    FORWARD!"  175 

"  Yes,  I  have  come  to  shake  your  hand." 

"  In  good  time.  But  why  are  they  so  slow  in 
coming — tell  me  that?  Are  they  going  to  march 
off  in  another  direction?  " 

"  Don't  be  afraid :  they  need  the  road  for  their 
artillery  and  baggage.  Hark!  they  are  sounding 
'  to  horse.'  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  seen  already  that  they  are  pre- 
paring." Then,  chuckling  to  himself:  "  Thou  dost 
not  know,  Jean-Claude,  what  a  funny  thing  I  saw, 
a  few  minutes  ago,  as  I  was  looking  toward  Grand- 
fontaine." 

"  What  was  it,  my  old  friend?  " 

"  I  saw  four  Germans  lay  hold  of  big  Dubreuil, 
the  friend  of  the  allies:  they  stretched  him  on  the 
stone  bench  by  his  door,  and  one  great  lanky  fel- 
low gave  him  I  know  not  how  many  cuts  with  a 
stick  across  his  back.  Ha,  ha,  ha,  he  must  have 
yelled,  the  old  rascal!  I  will  wager  that  he  re- 
fused something  to  his  good  friends, — his  wine  of 
the  year  XL  for  instance." 

Hullin  heard  no  more:  for,  casting  his  eyes  ac- 
cidentally down  the  valley,  he  caught  sight  of  an 
infantry  regiment  coming  up  the  road.  Farther 
back  in  the  street,  cavalry  were  seen  coming,  five 
or  six  officers  galloping  in  front  of  them. 

"  Ah?  ah !  there  they  come !  "  cried  the  old  sol- 


176     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

dier,  whose  face  glowed  suddenly  with  an  expres- 
sion of  strange  energy  and  enthusiasm.  "  At  last 
they  have  made  up  their  minds !  "  Then  he  rushed 
out  of  the  trench,  shouting:  "Attention,  my  chil- 
dren! " 

Passing  by,  he  saw  Riffi,  the  little  tailor  of 
Charmes,  bending  over  a  long  musket:  the  little 
man  had  been  piling  up  the  snow  to  give  him  a 
better  position  for  aiming.  Farther  up,  he  saw 
the  old  wood-cutter  Rochart,  his  great  shoes 
trimmed  with  sheepskin:  he  had  taken  a  gulp 
at  his  gourd,  and  was  rising  deliberately,  having 
his  carbine  under  his  arm  and  his  cotton  cap  over 
his  ears. 

That  was  all :  for  in  order  to  command  the  whole 
of  the  action,  he  had  to  climb  almost  to  the  summit 
of  the  Donon,  where  there  is  a  rock. 

Lagarmitte  followed,  striding  till  his  long  legs 
looked  like  stilts.  Ten  minutes  after,  when  they 
had  reached  the  top  of  the  rock,  half-breathless, 
they  perceived,  fifteen  hundred  metres  below  them, 
the  enemy's  column,  three  thousand  strong,  with 
white  great-coats,  leather  belts,  cloth  gaiters,  tall 
shakos,  and  red  mustaches;  and  in  the  spaces 
formed  by  the  companies,  the  young  officers,  with 
fiat  caps,  waving  their  swords,  and  shouting  in  shrill 
voices:  "Forward!  forward!" 


"FORWARD!    FORWARD!"  177 

These  troops  were  bristling  with  bayonets,  and 
advancing  at  the  charge  toward  the  breastworks. 

Old  Materne,  his  beaked  nose  rising  above  a 
juniper  branch  and  his  brow  erect,  was  also  watching 
the  arrival  of  the  Germans;  and  as  he  was  very  clear- 
sighted, he  could  distinguish  even  faces  among  the 
crowd,  and  choose  the  man  he  wished  to  knock  over. 

In  the  centre  of  the  column,  on  a  large  bay  horse, 
an  old  officer  was  advancing  right  ahe?d,  with  a 
white  wig,  a  three-cornered  hat  trimmed  \\ith  gold, 
his  waist  encircled  with  a  yellow  scarf,  and  his  breast 
decorated  with  ribbons.  "When  this  parsonage 
raised  his  head,  the  peak  of  his  hat,  surmounted  by 
a  tuft  of  black  plumes,  formed  a  vizor.  He  had 
great  wrinkles  along  his  cheeks,  and  looked  suffi- 
ciently stern. 

"  There  is  my  man !  "  thought  the  old  hunter, 
deliberately  taking  aim. 

He  fired,  and  when  he  looked  again  the  old  officer 
had  disappeared. 

Immediately  the  whole  hill-side  became  envel- 
oped in  fire  all  along  the  intrenchment ;  but  the 
Germans,  without  replying,  continued  to  advance 
toward  the  breastworks,  their  guns  on  their  shoul- 
ders, and  as  steadily  as  though  on  parade. 

To  tell  the  truth,  more  than  one  brave  moun- 
taineer, father  of  a  family,  seeing  this  forest  of  bay- 


178     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

onets  coming  up,  and  notwithstanding  the  excite- 
ment of  battle,  felt  that  he  would  have  done  better 
had  he  remained  in  his  village,  than  to  have  mixed 
himself  up  in  such  an  affair.  But,  as  the  proverb 
says,  "  The  wine  was  drawn,  and  it  had  to  be 
drunk." 

Riffi,  the  little  tailor,  recalled  the  words  of  his 
wife  Sapience:  "  Riffi,  you  will  get  yourself  crip- 
pled, and  it  will  serve  you  right." 

He  vowed  a  costly  offering  to  St.  Leon's  Chapel 
should  he  return  from  the  war;  but  at  the  same 
time  he  resolved  to  make  good  use  of  his  musket. 

When  they  were  about  two  hundred  feet  from 
the  breastworks,  the  Germans  halted  and  began 
a  rolling  fire,  such  as  had  never  been  heard  in  the 
mountain  before.  It  was  a  regular  storm  of  shot: 
the  balls  in  hundreds  tore  away  the  branches,  sent 
bits  of  broken  ice  flying  in  all  directions,  or  flat- 
tened themselves  on  the  rocks  on  every  side,  leaping 
up  with  a  strange  hissing  noise,  and  passing  by  like 
flocks  of  pigeons. 

All  this  did  not  stop  the  mountaineers  from  con- 
tinuing their  fire,  but  it  could  no  longer  be  heard. 
The  whole  hill-side  was  wrapped  in  blue  smoke, 
which  prevented  their  taking  any  aim. 

About  ten  minutes  later,  there  was  the  rolling 
of  a  drum,  and  all  this  mass  of  men  made  a 


"FORWARD!    FORWARD!"  179 

rush  at  the  breastworks,  their  officers  shouting, 
"Forward!" 

The  earth  shook  with  them. 

Materne,  springing  up  in  the  trench,  with  quiv- 
ering lips  and  in  a  terrible  voice,  cried  out,  "  To 
your  feet!  to  your  feet!" 

It  was  time:  for  a  good  number  of  these  Ger- 
mans,— nearly  all  students  in  philosophy,  law,  and 
medicine,  heroes  of  the  taverns  of  Munich,  Jena, 
and  other  places — who  fought  against  us,  because 
they  had  been  promised  great  things  after  Napo- 
leon's fall — all  these  intrepid  fellows  were  climbing 
the  icy  slope,  and  endeavoring  to  jump  into  the 
intrenchment. 

But  they  were  received  with  the  butt-end  of  the 
musket,  and  fell  back  in  disorder. 

It  was  then  that  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  old 
wood-cutter  Rochart  was  observable,  knocking  over, 
as  he  did,  more  than  ten  "  kaiserlichs,"  whom  he 
took  by  the  shoulder  and  hurled  down  the  incline. 
Old  Materne's  bayonet  was  red  with  blood ;  and  lit- 
tle Riffi  never  ceased  loading  his  musket  and  firing 
into  the  mass  of  Germans  with  great  spirit.  Joseph 
Larnette,  who  unluckily  received  a  bullet  in  his  eye ; 
Hans  Baumgarten,  who  had  his  shoulder  smashed; 
Daniel  Spitz,  who  lost  two  fingers  by  a  sabre-cut, 
and  many  others,  whose  names  should  be  honored 


i8o     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

and  revered  for  ages — all  these  never  once  left  off 
firing  and  reloading  their  guns. 

Below  the  slope  fearful  cries  were  heard,  while 
above  nothing  but  bristling  bayonets  and  men  on 
horseback  were  to  be  seen. 

This  lasted  a  good  quarter  of  an  hour.  No  one 
knew  what  the  Germans  would  do,  since  there  was 
no  passage;  when  they  suddenly  decided  on  going 
away.  Most  of  the  students  had  fallen,  and  the 
others — old  campaigners  used  to  honorable  retreats 
— no  longer  fought  with  the  same  steadiness. 

At  first  they  retreated  slowly,  then  more  quickly. 
Their  officers  struck  them  from  behind  with  the 
flat  end  of  their  swords;  the  musketry-fire  pur- 
sued them;  and,  finally,  they  ran  away  with  as 
much  precipitation  as  they  had  been  orderly  in  ad- 
vancing. 

Materne,  and  fifty  others,  rose  upon  the  barri- 
cades, the  old  hunter  brandishing  his  carbine,  and 
bursting  into  hearty  roars  of  laughter. 

At  the  foot  of  the  bank  were  heaps  of  wounded 
dragging  themselves  along  the  ground.  The  trod- 
den-down  snow  was  red  with  blood.  In  the  midst 
of  the  piles  of  dead  were  two  young  officers,  still 
alive,  but  unable  to  disengage  themselves  from  their 
dead  horses. 

It  was  horrible!    But  men  are,  in  fact,  savages: 


AS  THEY  CLIMBED  CTP  THET   WEBF  V-LCBBED  WITH  MUSKETS. 


T 


"FORWARD!    FORWARD!"  181 

there  was  not  one  among  the  mountaineers  who 
pitied  those  poor  wretches;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
they  seemed  to  rejoice  at  the  siglit. 

Little  Riffi,  transported  with  a  noble  enthusiasm, 
just  then  glided  out  along  the  bank.  To  the  left, 
underneath  the  breastworks,  he  had  caught  sight  of 
a  superb  horse,  which  had  belonged  to  the  colonel 
killed  by  Materne,  and  had  retired  unhurt  into  his 
nook. 

"  Thou  shalt  be  mine,"  said  he  to  himself. 
"  Sapience  will  be  astonished !  " 

All  the  others  envied  him.  He  seized  the 
horse  by  the  bridle  and  sprang  upon  him;  but 
judge  of  the  general  stupefaction,  and  of  Eiffi's  in 
particular,  when  this  noble  animal  began  to  shape 
his  course  toward  the  Germans  in  full  gallop. 

The  little  tailor  lifted  his  hands  to  heaven,  im- 
ploring God  and  all  the  saints. 

Materne  would  have  liked  much  to  fire;  but  he 
dared  not,  the  horse  went  so  fast. 

At  last  Riffi  disappeared  amid  the  bayonets  of 
the  enemy. 

Everybody  thought  he  had  been  killed.  How- 
ever, an  hour  later,  he  was  to  be  seen  passing  along 
the  main  street  of  Grandfontaine,  his  hands  tied  be- 
hind him,  and  Corporal  Knout  at  his  back,  bearing 
his  emblem  of  office. 


i82'    THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE   IN    1814 

Poor  Tliffi!  He  alone  did  not  partake  of  the  tri- 
umph, and  his  comrades  laughed  at  his  misfortune, 
as  though  he  had  been  but  a  "  kaiserlich." 

Such  is  the  character  of  men;  so  long  as  they 
are  happy  themselves,  the  misery  of  others  grieves 
them  but  little. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE  BATTLE  RENEWED 

THE  mountaineers  were  almost  beside  themselves 
with  enthusiasm:  they  lifted  their  hands  and  be- 
praised  one  another,  as  if  they  were  the  cream  of 
mankind. 

Catherine,  Louise,  Doctor  Lorquin  and  all  the 
others  came  out  of  the  farm,  cheering  and  congrat- 
ulating each  other,  gazing  at  the  marks  of  the  bul- 
lets and  at  the  bank  blackened  with  powder;  then 
at  Joseph  Larnette  stretched  in  his  hole,  having  his 
head  smashed;  at  Baumgarten,  who,  with  his  arm 
hanging  down,  walked  in  great  pallor  toward  the 
ambulance;  and  then  at  Daniel  Spitz,  who,  in  spite 
of  his  sabre-cut,  wanted  to -stay  and  fight;  but  the 
doctor  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  forced  him  to  en- 
ter the  farm. 

Louise  came  up  with  the  little  cart,  and  poured 

out  brandy  for  the  combatants ;    while  Catherine 

Lefevre,  standing  at  the  edge  of  the  sloping  bank, 

watched  the  dead  and  wounded  scattered  over  the 

183 


184     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

road,  and  led  up  to  by  long  lines  of  blood.  There 
were  both  young  and  old  among  them,  with  faces 
white  as  wax,  wide-opened  eyes,  and  outstretched 
arms.  Some  few  tried  to  raise  themselves,  but  no 
sooner  had  they  done  so  than  they  fell  back  again; 
others  looked  up  as  though  they  were  afraid  of  re- 
ceiving some  more  bullets,  and  dragged  themselves 
along  the  bank  in  order  to  get  under  shelter. 

Many  of  them  seemed  resigned  to  their  fate, 
and  were  looking  for  a  place  to  die,  or  else  watch- 
ing their  retreating  regiment  on  its  way  to  Framont 
— that  regiment  with  which  they  had  quitted  their 
homes,  with  which  they  had  made  a  long  campaign, 
and  which  was  now  abandoning  them!  "It  will 
see  old  Germany  again!"  they  thought.  "And 
when  some  one  asks  the  captain  or  the  sergeant, 
*  Did  you  know  such  a  one — Hans,  Kasper,  Nickel, 
of  the  1st  or  of  the  2d  company? '  they  will  reply, 
'  Ah !  I  think  so.  Had  he  not  a  scar  on  the  ear, 
or  on  the  cheek?  fair  or  dark  hair?  five  feet  six  in 
height?  Yes,  I  know  him.  He  was  buried  in 
France,  near  a  little  village  whose  name  I  do  not 
remember.  Some  mountaineers  killed  him  the 
same  day  big  Major  Yeri-Peter  was  killed.  He 
was  a  fine  fellow! '  And  then  it  is,  '  Good-day  to 
you.'  " 

Perhaps,   too,   there  were  some  of  them   who 


THE   BATTLE   RENEWED  185 

dreamed  of  their  mother,  or  of  a  pretty  girl  left  be- 
hind them,  Gretchen  or  Lotchen,  who  had  given 
them  a  ribbon,  and  shed  hot  tears  when  they  left: 
"  I  will  await  thy  return,  Kasper.  I  will  only  marry 
thee!  Yes,  yes,  thou  wilt  have  to  wait  long!  " 

It  was  not  pleasant  to  think  of. 

Madame  Lefevre,  seeing  this,  thought  of  Gas- 
pard.  Hullin,  who  came  up  with  Lagarmitte,  cried 
out  in  a  joyous  tone,  "  Well,  my  boys,  you  have 
been  under  fire.  Bravo!  everything  goes  well. 
The  Germans  will  have  no  occasion  to  boast  of  this 
day." 

Then  he  embraced  Louise,  and  hurried  up  to 
Catherine. 

"  Are  you  satisfied,  Catherine?  There!  our 
success  is  certain.  But  what  is  the  matter?  You 
do  not  smile." 

"  Yes,  Jean-Claude,  all  goes  well.  I  am  sat- 
isfied. But  look  down  at  the  road.  "What  a 
butchery!  " 

"  It  is  only  what  happens  in  war,"  replied  Hul- 
lin, gravely. 

"  Could  we  not  go  and  help  that  little  fellow 
down  there,  who  watches  us  with  his  large  blue 
eyes?  He  makes  me  feel  so  sad.  Or  that  tall,  dark 
man,  who  is  binding  his  leg  with  his  handkerchief?  " 

"  Impossible,  Catherine.    I  am  very  sorry.    We 


186     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

should  have  to  cut  steps  in  the  ice  to  get  down,  and 
the  Germans,  who  will  be  back  in  an  hour  or  two, 
would  take  advantage  of  them.  Let  us  go.  The 
victory  must  be  announced  in  all  the  villages — 
to  Labarbe,  Jerome,  and  Piorette.  Ho!  Simon, 
^Niklo,  Marchal,  come  here.  You  will  have  to  set 
out  immediately,  and  carry  the  great  tidings  to  our 
comrades.  Materne,  keep  thy  eyes  open,  and  warn 
me  at  the  slightest  movement." 

They  approached  the  farm,  and,  as  he  passed, 
Jean-Claude  took  a  look  at  the  reserve,  Marc  Dives 
being  on  horseback  surrounded  by  his  men.  The 
smuggler  complained  bitterly  of  being  left  with 
nothing  to  do,  as  if  his  honor  were  tarnished 
thereby. 

"Bah!"  said  Hullin,  "so  much  the  better! 
Besides,  thou  keepest  guard  over  our  right.  Look 
at  that  flat  ground  down  there.  If  we  are  attacked 
from  that  point,  thou  wilt  have  to  march!  " 

Dives  made  no  answer;  he  looked  both  sad  and 
indignant,  nor  did  his  stalwart  smugglers,  wrapped 
in  their  cloaks,  their  long  swords  hanging  by 
their  sides,  seem  at  all  in  a  better  humor  ;  one 
might  have  said  that  they  were  meditating  some 
revenge. 

Ilullin,  not  succeeding  in  consoling  them,  en- 
tered the  farm-house.  Doctor  Lorquin  was  extract- 


THE    BATTLE    RENEWED  187 

ing  the  ball  from  Baumgarten's  wound,  who  was 
making  terrible  cries. 

Pel  sly,  on  the  doorstep,  was  trembling  all  over. 
Jean-Claude  asked  him  for  paper  and  ink,  in  order 
to  transmit  his  orders  through  the  mountain;  but 
the  poor  anabaptist  could  hardly  give  them  to  him, 
so  great  was  his  trouble.  However,  he  succeeded 
at  last,  and  the  messengers  departed,  proud  of  being 
charged  to  announce  the  first  battle  and  victory. 

A  few  mountaineers  were  in  the  large  room, 
warming  themselves  at  the  oven  and  talking  ani- 
matedly. Daniel  Spitz  had  already  undergone  am- 
putation of  his  two  fingers,  and  sat  behind  the  stove 
with  his  hand  bound  up. 

Those  who  had  been  posted  behind  the  abatis 
before  daybreak,  not  having  breakfasted,  were  now 
eating  a  crust  of  bread  and  drinking  a  glass  of  wine, 
shouting,  gesticulating,  and  making  great  bravado 
meanwhile.  Then  they  went  out,  looked  at  the 
intrenchments,  came  back  to  warm  themselves 
again,  and  laughed  fit  to  split  their  sides  when  they 
spoke  of  Riffi,  and  his  wails  and  cries  on  horseback. 

It  was  eleven  o'clock.  These  incomings  and 
outgoings  lasted  till  twelve,  when  Marc  Dives  sud- 
denly came  into  the  room,  calling  out: — "  Hullin! 
Where  is  Hullin?" 

"  Here  I  am." 


i88     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"Well,  then,  come!" 

The  smuggler's  tone  had  something  remarkable 
about  it:  from  being  a  moment  before  furious  at 
having. taken  no  part  in  the  fight,  he  had  now  be- 
come triumphant.  Jean-Claude  followed  him,  feel- 
ing very  uneasy:  and  the  large  room  was  immedi- 
ately deserted,  everybody  being  convinced,  from 
Marc's  manner,  that  there  was  something  serious 
the  matter. 

To  the  right  of  the  Donon  extends  the  ravine 
of  Minieres,  through  which  runs  a  foaming  torrent 
when  the  snows  melt — descending  from  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain  to  the  valley. 

Exactly  in  front  of  the  plateau  defended  by  the 
partisans,  and  on  the  other  side  of  this  ravine,  at  a 
distance  of  five  or  six  hundred  metres,  projects  a 
sort  of  open  terrace  with  rugged  sides,  which  Hul- 
lin  had  considered  unnecessary  to  occupy  for  the 
time,  wishing  not  to  divide  his  forces,  and  seeing, 
besides,  that  it  would  be  easy  for  him  to  turn  this 
position  by  the  pine-clumps,  and  to  establish  him- 
self there,  if  the  enemy  showed  any  intention  to 
take  it. 

Now  imagine  the  consternation  of  the  worthy 
man  when,  on  reaching  the  door  of  the  farm-house, 
he  saw  two  companies  of  Germans  climbing  this  as- 
cent, among  the  gardens  of  Grandfontaine,  having 


THE    BATTLE    RENEWED  189 

two  field-pieces  yoked  to  powerful  horses,  which 
appeared  to  hang  over  the  precipice.  A  troop 
was  pushing  at  the  wheels,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
the  guns  would  have  reached  the  plateau.  * 

It  was  like  a  thunder-bolt  for  Jean-Claude;  he 
turned  pale,  and  then  into  a  great  passion  with 
Dives. 

"  Couldst  thou  not  have  warned  me  sooner?  " 
he  cried.  "  Did  I  not  command  thee  to  watch  over 
the  ravine?  Our  position  is  turned.  They  will 
hem  us  in,  and  cut  us  off  from  the  road  farther  on. 
Everything  is  going  to  the  deuce." 

The  people  present,  and  old  Materne  himself, 
who  had  come  up  in  great  haste,  were  startled  by 
the  glance  he  darted  at  the  smuggler;  who,  not- 
withstanding his  usual  audacity,  was  quite  con- 
fused, not  knowing  what  to  reply. 

"  Come,  come,  Jean-Claude,"  said  he  at  last, 
"  be  calm.  It  is  not  so  serious  as  thou  sayest.  We 
have  not  fought  yet — we  others;  and  besides,  we 
have  no  cannons — so  it  will  be  the  very  thing 
for  us." 

"Yes,  the  very  thing  for  us,  imbecile!  Thy 
self-love  made  thee  wait  till  the  last  minute,  did 
it  not?  Thou  wert  too  eager  to  fight,  and  have  an 
opportunity  for  boasting  and  making  bravado;  and 
for  that  thou  didst  not  hesitate  to  risk  all  our  lives. 


I9o     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

Look!  there  are  other  troops  being  got  ready  at 
Framont." 

In  fact,  another  column,  much  stronger  than  the 
first,  was  just  then  marching  out  of  Framont  at  the 
charge,  and  advancing  against  the  breastworks. 
Dives  did  not  say  a  word.  Hullin  controlled  his 
anger,  and  became  suddenly  calm  in  the  presence 
of  danger. 

"  Go  back  to  your  posts,"  he  said  briefly  to  those 
around  him.  "  Let  all  be  ready  for  the  coming 
attack.  Materne,  listen!  " 

The  old  hunter  inclined  his  head.  Meanwhile, 
Marc  Dives  had  recovered  his  self-possession. 

"  Instead  of  screaming  like  a  woman,"  said  he, 
"  thou  wouldst  do  better  to  give  me  orders  to  attack 
down  there,  by  turning  the  ravine  at  the  pine- 
clumps." 

"  Then  do  it !  "  replied  Jean-Claude ;  and  in  a 
calmer  tone :  "  Listen,  Marc !  I  am  very  angry  with 
thee.  We  were  conquerors;  and  by  thy  fault  the 
battle  has  to  be  fought  over  again.  If  thou  failest 
in  thy  attack,  all  is  lost  for  us." 

"Good!  good!  The  afl'air  is  altogether  mine: 
I  will  answer  for  it." 

Then,  springing  on  his  horse,  and  throwing  the 
end  of  his  mantle  over  his  shoulder,  he  drew  his 
long  blade  with  a  defiant  air.  His  men  did  the 
same. 


THE   BATTLE   RENEWED  191 

He  then  turned  to  the  reserve,  composed  of  five 
hundred  mountaineers,  and  showing  the  plateau  to 
them  with  the  point  of  his  sword,  said,  "  Look 
there,  my  men !  we  must  carry  that  position.  The 
men  of  Dagsburg  must  not  say  that  they  are  braver 
than  the  men  of  the  Sarre.  Forward !  "  And, 
full  of  ardor,  they  advanced,  skirting  the  ravine. 
Hullin  shouted  to  them — "At  the  point  of  your 
bayonets!  " 

The  big  smuggler,  on  his  great  sleek  roan, 
turned  round,  laughing  out  of  the  corners  of  his 
mustache,  and  waved  his  sword  in  a  significant 
way;  then  the  whole  body  dashed  into  the  pine- 
wood. 

At  the  same  time  the  Germans,  with  their 
eight-pounders,  had  gained  the  plateau,  and  were 
putting  them  in  position,  while  the  column  from 
Framont  was  ascending  the  hill-side.  Thus  every- 
thing was  in  the  same  condition  as  before  the  bat- 
tle,— with  this  difference,  that  the  enemies'  bullets 
would  now  come  into  play  and  take  the  mountain- 
eers in  the  rear. 

One  could  see  distinctly  the  two  field-pieces  with 
their  cramp-irons,  levers,  sponges,  artillerymen, 
and  the  officer  commanding,  a  great  lanky  fellow, 
with  broad  shoulders  and  fair  mustaches  floating  in 
the  wind.  The  blue  shades  of  the  valley  seeming 


I92      THE   INVASION    OF    FRANCE    IN    1814 

to  diminish  the  distance,  they  looked  as  though  you 
might  have  touched  them ;  but  Hullin  and  Materne 
were  not  to  be  deceived;  it  was  a  good  six  hundred 
metres  across.  Xo  carbine  could  reach  so  far.  Nev- 
ertheless, the  old  hunter,  before  returning  to  the 
abatis,  wished  to  have  his  mind  set  quite  at  rest, 
lie  advanced  as  close  as  possible  to  the  ravine,  fol- 
lowed by  his  son  Kasper  and  a  few  mountaineers; 
and,  leaning  against  a  tree,  he  raised  his  gun  delib- 
erately and  took  aim  at  the  tall  officer  with  the  fair 
"mustaches.  All  those  about  him  held  their  breath 
for  fear  of  balking  the  attempt. 

Materne  fired,  but  when  he  laid  down  his 
weapon  to  see  what  had  occurred,  no  change  had 
taken  place. 

"  It  is  astonishing  how  age  weakens  the  sight," 
he  said. 

"  Your  weakened  sight !  "  cried  Kasper.  "  There 
is  not  a  man  from  the  Vosges  to  Switzerland  who 
can  boast  of  hitting  his  mark  at  two  hundred  me- 
tres like  you!  " 

The  old  hunter  knew  well  it  was  the  case,  but  he 
did  not  wish  to  discourage  the  others. 

"  Well,"  he  replied,  "  we  have  no  time  for  dis- 
puting. Here  is  the  enemy  again;  let  each  do  his 
duty."  Although  these  words  seemed  simple  and 
calm  enough,  Materne  was  very  much  troubled  in 


THE   BATTLE   RENEWED 


193 


reality.  On  entering  the  trench  confused  sounds 
met  his  ear — the  clattering  of  arms  and  the  regular 
tramp  of  many  feet.  He  looked  down  over  the 
steep  bank,  and  now  saw  the  Germans,  who  this 
time  carried  long  ladders  with  hooks  at  the  end. 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  sight  for  the  brave  fel- 
low: he  made  a  sign  to  his  son  to  approach,  and 
said  to  him,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Kasper,  that  looks 
bad — very  bad;  the  rascals  are  coming  with  lad- 
ders. Give  me  thy  hand!  I  should  like  to  have 
thee  near  me,  and  Frantz  as  well;  but  we  must  de- 
fend ourselves  with  steadiness." 

At  this  moment  a  great  explosion  shook  the 
abatis,  and  a  hoarse  voice  was  heard  crying  out, 
"Ah,  rny  God!  "  Then  a  hundred  paces  distant 
there  was  a  heavy  sound,  and  a  fine  tree  bent  down 
slowly  and  fell  into  the  abyss.  It  was  the  first 
cannon-ball:  it  had  cut  off  old  Rochart's  legs.  It 
was  followed  by  another  immediately  after,  which 
covered  all  the  mountaineers  with  broken  ice,  and 
made  a  great  rumbling.  Old  Materne  himself  had 
bent  down  under  the  force  of  the  explosion,  but 
raising  himself  quickly,  he  shouted,  "  Let  us  re- 
venge ourselves,  my  children.  They  are  before  you. 
To  conquer  or  die!  " 

Fortunately  the  panic  of  the  mountaineers  only 
lasted  a  second:  they  all  understood  that  the  slight- 
is 


I94     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

est  hesitation  and  they  were  lost.  Two  ladders  had 
already  been  raised,  notwithstanding  the  fusillade, 
and  were  being  attached  to  the  bank  by  their  iron 
hooks.  This  sight  made  the  partisans  furious,  and 
the  fight  became  more  terrible  and  desperate  than 
before. 

Hullin  had  noticed  the  ladders  before  Materne 
had,  and  his  wrath  against  Dives  increased;  but  as 
in  such  a  case  indignation  is  of  no  avail,  he  had  sent 
Lagarmitte  to  tell  Frantz  Materne,  who  had  been 
posted  on  the  other  side  of  the  Donon,  to  come  to 
him  quickly  with  half  his  men.  We  may  well  be- 
lieve the  brave  fellow,  warned  of  the  danger  his 
father  was  in,  lost  not  a  moment.  Already  their 
large  black  hats  could  be  seen  climbing  the  hill-side 
amid  the  snows,  their  carbines  slung  across  their 
shoulders.  They  came  with  all  despatch,  never- 
theless Jean-Claude  met  them,  with  a  haggard  ex- 
pression in  his  eyes,  and  shouted  in  a  vibrating 
voice,  "  Come  quicker!  at  that  rate  you  will  never 
reach  us." 

He  was  in  a  towering  passion,  and  attributed  all 
the  misfortune  to  the  smuggler. 

Meanwhile  Marc  Dives,  in  about  half  an  hour, 
had  gone  round  the  ravine,  and,  from  the  back  of 
his  tall  horse,  began  to  perceive  the  two  companies 
of  Germans,  with  grounded  arms,  about  a  hundred 


THE    BATTLE    RENEWED  195 

feet  behind  the  guns,  which  were  being  fired  upon 
the  trench.  Then,  approaching  the  mountaineers, 
he  said  to  them,  in  a  stifled  voice,  while  the  reports 
of  the  cannon  were  re-echoed  in  the  gorge  and  in 
the  distance  the  noise  of  battle  was  heard:  "  Com- 
rades, you  must  attack  the  infantry  with  your  bay- 
onets: I  and  my  men  will  be  answerable  for  the 
rest.  Is  it  understood?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  understood." 

"Then,  forward!" 

The  whole  troop  advanced  in  ^ood  order  to- 
ward the  outskirts  of  the  wood,  big  Piercy  of 
Soldatenthal  at  their  head.  Nearly  at  the  same 
instant  the  Wer  da ?  ("  Who  there?  ")  of  a  sentinel 
was  heard;  then  two  shots;  a  loud  cry  of  "  Vive  la 
France!  "  and  the  trampling  of  many  feet  in  a 
charge.  The  brave  mountaineers  threw  themselves 
like  wolves  on  the  enemy. 

Dives  stood  up  in  his  stirrups  and  watched  them 
with  great  glee.  "  That  is  well,"  said  he. 

The  melee  was  a  terrible  one;  the  ground  trem- 
bled with  it.  The  Germans  were  firing  no  more 
than  the  partisans:  the  affair  was  passing  in  silence; 
the  clashing  of  bayonets  and  the  sound  of  sabre- 
strokes,  with  here  and  there  a  rifle-shot,  shouts  of 
anger  and  a  great  tumult:  except  these,  one  could 
hear  nothing  else.  The  smugglers,  with  out- 


196     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

stretched  necks  and  sword  in  hand,  sniffed  the  car- 
nage and  awaited  the  signal  from  their  chief  with 
impatience. 

"Now,  it  is  our  turn,"  said  Dives,  at  length. 
"  The  guns  must  be  ours." 

And  out  of  the  underwood  they  sprang,  and  their 
large  cloaks  flying  behind  them  like  wings,  they 
dashed  forward,  bending  in  their  saddles  and  point- 
ing their  swords. 

"Never  mind  cutting!  Run  them  through!" 
cried  Dives  once  more. 

That  was  all  he  said. 

In  a  second,  the  twelve  vultures  were  down  upon 
the  guns.  Among  their  number  were  four  old 
Spanish  dragoons  and  two  cuirassiers  of  the  guard, 
whom  a  life  of  danger  had  attached  to  Marc:  so 
I  leave  you  to  imagine  how  they  fought.  Blows 
from  lever,  rammer,  and  sabre,  the  only  arms  the 
gunners  had  to  hand,  rained  upon  them  like  hail; 
they  parried  them  all,  and  every  cut  they  made 
brought  down  a  man. 

Marc  Dives  received  two  pistol-shots,  of  which 
one  singed  his  left  cheek  and  the  other  carried  away 
his  hat.  But,  at  the  same  time,  bending  over  his 
saddle,  his  long  arms  stretched  out,  he  transfixed 
the  big  officer  with  the  fair  mustaches  to  his  gun; 
then  raising  himself  deliberately,  and  gazing  round 


THE    BATTLE    RENEWED  i9-j 

him  with  a  frown,  said,  in  a  sententious  manner: 
"  We  have  cleared  out  the  rubbish!  the  guns  are 
ours." 

To  get  a  good  idea  of  this  terrible  scene,  you 
must  imagine  the  crowd  on  the  plateau  of  Min- 
ieres.  The  cries,  the  neighings  of  horses,  the  flight 
of  some,  who  threw  down  their  arms  in  order  to 
run  the  faster,  the  desperation  of  others; — beyond 
the  ravine,  the  ladders  covered  with  white  uniforms 
and  bristling  with  bayonets;  the  mountaineers 
above  the  escarpment  defending  themselves  with 
obstinacy;  the  hill-sides,  the  road,  and,  above  all, 
the  space  outside  the  breastworks,  encumbered  with 
dead  and  wounded; — the  great  numbers  of  the  en- 
emy, their  muskets  over  their  shoulders  and  their 
officers  in  the  midst  of  them,  pressing  forward  into 
action ;  and,  finally,  Materne  standing  on  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  his  bayonet  in  the  air,  his  mouth  opened 
wide,  shouting  wildly  to  his  son  Frantz,  who  was 
advancing  with  his  troop,  Master  Jean-Claude  at 
their  head,  to  aid  the  mountaineers.  You  should 
have  heard  the  fusillade,  the  platoon  and  file  fir- 
ing, and,  above  all,  the  distant  confused  shouts,  in- 
termixed with  sharp  wails  dying  away  among  the 
mountain  echoes.  To  gain  a  good  idea  of  the  scene, 
you  should  imagine  all  these  as  concentrated  into 
one  moment  and  surveyed  with  a  rapid  glance. 


198     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

But  Dives  was  not  of  a  contemplative  turn:  he 
lost  no  time  in  making  poetical  reflections  on  the 
uproar  and  savagery  of  the  battle.  With  one  look 
he  had  taken  in  the  whole  situation;  so,  spring- 
ing from  his  horse,  he  went  up  to  the  first  gun, 
which  was  still  loaded,  aimed  it  at  the  ladders,  and 
fired. 

Then  there  arose  wild  clamors,  and  the  smuggler, 
peering  through  the  smoke,  saw  that  fearful  havoc 
had  been  made  in  the  enemy's  ranks.  He  waved 
his  hands  in  sign  of  triumph,  and  the  mountaineers 
on  the  breastworks  answered  with  a  general  hurrah. 

"  Now  then,  dismount,"  said  he  to  his  men,  "  and 
don't  go  to  sleep.  A  cartridge,  a  ball,  and  some 
turf.  We  will  sweep  the  road.  Look  out!  " 

The  smugglers  put  themselves  in  position,  and 
continued  to  fire  with  enthusiasm  upon  the  white 
coats.  The  bullets  rained  into  their  ranks.  At 
the  tenth  discharge  there  was  a  general  sauve-quir 
pent. 

"Fire!  fire!  "  shouted  Marc. 

And  the  partisans,  now  supported  by  Frantz'a 
troop,  regained,  under  Hullin's  directions,  the  po- 
sitions which  they  had  for  the  moment  lost. 

The  whole  of  the  hill-side  was  soon  covered  with 
dead  and  wounded.  It  was  then  four  in  the  even- 
ing; night  was  approaching.  The  last  ball  fell 


THE   BATTLE   RENEWED 


199 


into  the  street  of  Grandfontaine,  and  rebounding 
on  the  angle  of  the  pavement,  knocked  down  the 
chimney  of  the  "  Eed  Ox." 

About  six  hundred  men  perished  that  day: 
there  were,  of  course,  many  mountaineers  among 
them,  but  the  greater  number  were  "  kaiserlichs." 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  fire  of  Marc  Dives's  cannon, 
all  would  have  been  lost;  the  partisans  were  not 
one  against  ten,  and  the  enemy  had  already  begun 
to  gain  on  the  trenches. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

PAINFUL  SCENES 

THE  Germans,  huddled  together  in  Grandf on- 
tame,  fled  in  crowds  in  the  direction  of  Framont, 
on  foot  and  on  horseback,  hurrying,  dragging  along 
their  ammunition-wagons,  strewing  the  road  with 
their  knapsacks,  and  looking  behind  as  though  they 
feared  to  find  the  partisans  at  their  heels. 

In  Grandfontaine  they  destroyed  everything 
out  of  sheer  revenge;  they  smashed  in  doors  and 
windows,  maltreated  the  people,  demanded  food  and 
drink  indiscriminately.  Their  shouts  and  curses, 
the  commands  of  their  officers,  the  murmurs  of  the 
townsfolk,  the  artillery  rolling  over  the  bridge  of 
Framont,  the  shrill  cries  of  the  wounded  horses, 
were  heard  as  a  confused  murmur  at  the  breast- 
works. 

The  hill-side  was  covered  with  arms,  shakos, 
and  dead;  in  fact,  with  all  the  signs  of  a  great 
rout.  In  front  was  Marc  Dives's  cannon  directed 
down  the  valley,  ready  to  fire  in  case  of  a  fresh 
attack. 


PAINFUL   SCENES  201 

All  was  finished,  and  finished  well.  Yet  no 
shout  of  triumph  rose  from  the  intrenchments  : 
the  losses  of  the  mountaineers,  in  this  last  assault, 
had  been  too  great  for  that.  There  was  something 
solemn  in  this  silence  succeeding  to  the  uproar; 
all  these  men  who  had  escaped  the  carnage,  looked 
grave,  as  though  astonished  to  see  each  other  again. 
Some  few  called  a  friend,  others  a  brother,  who  did 
not  answer;  and  then  they  searched  for  them  in  the 
trenches,  along  the  breastworks,  or  on  the  slopes, 
calling  "  Jacob,  Philip,  is  it  thou?  " 

Iftght  came  on;  and  the  gray  shadow  creeping 
over  everything,  added  mystery  to  these  fearful 
scenes.  The  people  came  and  went  among  the 
wrecks  of  the  battle  without  recognizing  each 
other. 

Materne,  having  wiped  his  bayonet,  called 
hoarsely  to  his  boys: — "  Kasper!  Frantz!"  and 
seeing  them  approach  in  the  darkness,  he  asked, 
"Is  that  you?" 

"  Yes,  we  are  here." 

"  Are  you  safe?  are  you  wounded?  " 

"  -No." 

The  old  hunter's  voice  became  hoarser  and 
more  trembling  still: — "  Then  we  are  all  three 
united  once  more,"  said  he,  in  a  low  tone. 

And  he,  whom  none  would  have  thought  to  be 


202     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

so  tender,  embraced  his  sons  warmly.  They  could 
hear  his  chest  heaving  with  suppressed  sobs.  They 
were  both  much  moved,  and  said  to  each  other, — 
"  We  never  dreamed  that  he  loved  us  so  much!  " 

But  the  old  man,  soon  recovering  from  his  emo- 
tion, called  out,  "  It  was  a  hard  day,  though,  my 
boys.  Let  us  have  something  to  drink,  for  I  am 
thirsty." 

Then,  casting  one  last  look  on  the  dark  slopes, 
and  seeing  that  Hullin  had  placed  sentinels  at  short 
distances  apart,  they  proceeded  toward  the  farm- 
house. 

As  they  were  picking  their  way  carefully  through 
the  trenches,  encumbered  with  the  dead,  they  heard 
a  stifled  voice,  which  said  to  them,  "  Is  it  thou, 
Materne?" 

"  Ah!  forgive  me,  my  poor  old  Kochart,"  replied 
the  hunter,  bending  over  him,  "  if  I  touched  thee. 
.What,  art  thou  still  here? " 

u  Yes,  I  cannot  get  away,  for  I  have  no  longer 
any  legs  to  carry  me." 

They  remained  silent  for  a  moment,  when  the 
old  wood-cutter  continued, — "  Thou  wilt  tell  my 
wife  that  in  a  bag  behind  the  closet,  there  are  five 
pieces  of  six.  I  have  saved  them  up,  in  case  we 
either  of  us  fell  ill.  I  no  longer  need  them." 

"That  is  to  say — that  is  to  say —     But  thou 


PAINFUL   SCENES  203 

mayst  recover  still,  my  poor  old  fellow.  We  will 
carry  thee  away." 

"  No;  it  is  not  worth  the  trouble:  I  cannot  last 
more  than  an  hour.  It  would  only  make  me  lin- 
ger." 

Materne,  without  answering,  signed  to  Kasper 
to  place  his  carbine  with  his  own,  so  as  to  form  a 
stretcher,  and  Frantz  placed  the  old  wood-cutter 
upon  them,  notwithstanding  his  moans.  In  this 
way  they  arrived  at  the  farm. 

All  the  wounded  who  during  the  combat  had 
had  strength  to  drag  themselves  to  the  ambulance 
were  now  assembled  there;  and  Doctor  Lorquin 
and  his  comrade  Dubois,  who  had  arrived  during 
the  day,  had  work  enough  to  do.  But  all  was  far 
from  being  over  yet. 

As  Materne,  his  boys,  and  Rochart  were  travers- 
ing the  dark  alley  under  the  lantern,  they  heard 
to  their  left  a  cry  which  made  their  blood  run  cold, 
and  the  old  wood-cutter,  half  dead,  called  out, 
"  Why  do  you  take  me  there  ?  I  will  not  go ;  I 
will  not  have  anything  done  to  me." 

"  Open  the  door,  Frantz,"  said  Materne,  his 
face  streaming  with  perspiration.  "  Open  it!  Be 
quick!" 

Frantz  having  pushed  open  the  door,  they  be- 
held in  the  centre  of  the  low  room  with  its  large 


204     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

brown  beams,  Colard's  son  stretched  out  full  length 
on  a  great  kitchen-table,  a  man  at  each  arm  and  a 
bucket  beneath  him.  Doctor  Lorquin,  his  shirt- 
sleeves turned  up  to  his  elbows,  and  a  short  saw  in 
his  hand,  was  cutting  off  the  poor  fellow's  leg, 
while  Dubois  stood  by  with  a  large  sponge.  The 
blood  trickled  into  the  pail.  Colard  was  as  white 
as  death. 

Catherine  Lefevre  was  there  with  a  roll  of  lint 
on  her  arm.  She  seemed  calm ;  but  her  teeth  were 
clinched,  and  she  fastened  her  eyes  on  the  ground 
as  though  determined  to  witness  nothing. 

"  It  is  finished,"  said  the  doctor,  turning  round; 
and  perceiving  the  new-comers,  "Ha!  it  is  you, 
Father  Rochart!  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,  it  is  I;  but  I  will  not  let  any  one  touch 
me.  I  would  rather  die  as  I  am." 

The  doctor  lifted  up  a  candle,  looked  at  him, 
and  made  a  grimace. 

"  It  is  time  to  see  to  you,  my  poor  old  fellow. 
You  have  lost  much  blood,  and  if  we  wait  longer  it 
will  be  too  late." 

"  So  much  the  better!  I  have  suffered  enough 
in  my  life." 

"  As  you  like.    Let  us  pass  on  to  another." 

He  cast  his  eyes  over  a  long  line  of  straw  mat- 
tresses at  the  end  of  the  room;  the  two  last  were 


PAINFUL    SCENES  205 

empty,  but  covered  with  blood.  Materne  and 
Kasper  laid  the  old  wood-cutter  down  on  the  last, 
while  Dubois,  approaching  another  wounded  man, 
said,  "  Nicolas,  it  is  thy  turn!  " 

Nicolas  Cerf  raised  his  pale  face  and  his  eyes 
glistened  with  fright. 

"  Let  him  have  a  glass  of  brandy,"  said  the 
doctor. 

"  No,  I  would  rather  smoke  my  pipe." 

"Where  is  thy  pipe?" 

"  In  my  waistcoat  pocket." 

"  Good,  I  have  found  it.    And  the  tobacco? " 

"  In  my  trousers." 

"  All  right.  Fill  his  pipe,  Dubois.  He  is  a 
plucky  fellow;  it  gives  one  pleasure  to  see  a  man 
like  that.  We  are  going  to  take  off  thy  arm  in  a 
trice." 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  saving  it,  Monsieur  Lor- 
quin,  to  bring  up  my  poor  children?  It  is  their 
only  resource." 

"  No;  it  is  no  use;  the  bone  is  smashed.  Light 
the  pipe,  Dubois.  Now,  Nicolas,  smoke  away." 

The  unhappy  fellow  began,  though  evidently 
without  relish. 

"  Is  all  ready?  "  asked  the  doctor. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Nicolas,  in  a  husky  voice. 

"Good.    Attention,  Dubois!    Sponge  away." 


206         THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

And  he  made  a  rapid  turn  in  the  flesh  with  a 
great  knife.  Nicolas  ground  his  teeth.  The  blood 
spurted  up,  and  Dubois  bound  up  something  tight- 
ly. The  saw  grated  for  two  seconds,  and  the  arm 
fell  heavily  on  the  boards. 

"  That  is  what  I  call  a  well-performed  opera- 
tion," said  Lorquin. 

Nicolas  was  no  longer  smoking;  the  pipe  had 
fallen  from  his  lips.  David  Schlosser,  of  Walsch, 
who  had  held  him,  let  go.  They  bound  up  the 
stump  with  linen,  and,  all  unaided,  Nicolas  went 
to  lie  down  on  the  straw. 

"  One  more  finished!  Sponge  the  table  well, 
Dubois,  and  let  us  go  on  to  another,"  said  the  doc- 
tor, washing  his  hands  in  a  large  bowl. 

Each  time  that  he  said,  "  Let  us  go  on  to  an- 
other," the  wounded  moved  uneasily,  terrified  by 
the  screams  they  heard  and  the  glittering  knives 
they  saw.  But  what  was  to  be  done?  Every 
room  in  the  farm,  the  granary,  and  the  lofts  was 
full.  They  were  thus  obliged  to  operate  under  the 
eyes  of  those  who  would  soon  in  their  turns  come 
beneath  the  painful  knife. 

The  operation  had  taken  but  a  few  seconds. 
Materne  and  his  sons  looked  on  for  the  same  rea- 
son as  one  looks  at  other  horrible  things, — to  know 
what  they  are  like.  Then  in  the  corner,  under 


PAINFUL    SCENES  207 

the  old  china  clock,  they  saw  a  heap  of  amputated 
limbs. 

Nicolas's  arm  had  already  been  cast  among 
them,  and  a  ball  was  now  being  extracted  from  the 
shoulder  of  a  red-whiskered  mountaineer  of  the 
Harberg.  They  opened  deep  gashes  in  his  back; 
his  flesh  quivered,  and  the  blood  coursed  down  his 
powerful  limbs. 

The  dog  Pluto,  behind  the  doctor,  looked  on 
with  an  attentive  air,  as  though  he  understood,  and 
from  time  to  time  stretched  himself  and  yawned 
loudly. 

Materne  could  look  on  no  longer. 

"  Let  us  get  out  of  this,"  said  he. 

Hardly  were  they  outside  the  door,  when  they 
heard  the  doctor  exclaim,  "  I  have  got  the  ball!  " 
which  must  indeed  have  been  satisfactory  to  the 
man  from  the  Harberg. 

Once  outside,  Materne,  inhaling  the  cold  air  with 
delight,  exclaimed :  "  Only  think  that  the  same 
might  have  happened  to  us!  " 

"True,"  said  Kasper;  "to  get  a  ball  in  one's 
head  is  nothing;  but  to  be  cut  up  in  that  style, 
and  then  to  beg  one's  bread  for  the  rest  of  one's 
days!" 

"  Bah !  I  should  do  the  same  as  old  Kochart," 
said  Frantz.  "  I  should  die  quietly.  The  old  fel- 


208     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

low  was  right.  When  one  has  done  one's  duty, 
why  should  one  be  afraid  ?  " 

Just  then  the  hum  of  voices  was  heard  on  their 
fight. 

"  It  is  Marc  Dives  and  Hullin,"  said  Kasper, 
Jistening. 

"  Yes;  they  must  be  just  returning  from  throw- 
ing up  breastworks  behind  the  pine-wood,  to  pro- 
tect the  cannon,"  added  Frantz. 

They  listened  again;   the  footsteps  came  nearer. 

"  Thou  must  be  very  much  bothered  with  these 
three  prisoners,"  said  Hullin,  roughly.  "  Since 
thou  returnest  to  the  Falkenstein  to-night  to  get 
ammunition,  what  prevents  thee  from  taking  them 
away? " 

"  Where  are  they  to  be  put?  " 

"  Why,  in  the  communal  prison  of  Abreschwil- 
ler,  to  be  sure.  We  cannot  keep  them  here." 

"  All  right,  I  understand,  Jean-Claude.  And 
if  they  try  to  escape  on  the  way,  I  am  to  use  my 
sword?" 

"  Just  so." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  door,  and  Hul- 
lin, perceiving  Materne,  could  not  suppress  a  shout 
of  enthusiasm:  "Ah!  Is  it  thou,  old  fellow?  I 
have  been  searching  for  thee  an  hour.  Where  the 
devil  wert  thou? " 


PAINFUL   SCENES  209 

"  We  have  been  carrying  poor  Rochart  to  the 
ambulance,  Jean-Claude." 

"  Ah!  it  is  a  sad  affair,  isn't  it?  " 

"  Yes;    it  is  sad." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause,  and  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  worthy  man  again  became  visible. 

"  It  is  not  at  all  lively,"  said  he;  "  but  what  is 
to  be  done  when  one  goes  to  the  war?  You  are 
not  hurt  any  of  you? " 

"  Xo;   we  are  all  three  safe  and  sound." 

"  So  much  the  better.  Those  who  are  left  can 
boast  of  being  lucky." 

"  True,"  cried  Marc  Dives,  laughing.  "  At  one 
time  I  thought  Materne  was  going  to  give  way. 
Without  those  cannon-balls  at  the  finish,  things 
would  have  gone  badly." 

Materne  colored,  and  glanced  sideways  at  the 
smuggler. 

"  Perhaps  so,"  said  he,  dryly;  "  but  without  the 
cannon-balls  at  the  beginning,  we  should  not  have 
needed  those  at  the  end.  Old  Rochart,  and  fifty 
other  brave  men,  would  still  have  had  their  arms 
and  legs,  and  our  victory  would  not  have  been 
clouded." 

"  Bah !  "  interrupted  Hullin,  anticipating  a  dis- 
pute between  the  two  brave  fellows,  neither  of 
whom  was  remarkable  for  his  conciliatory  disposi- 
14 


zio     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

tion.  "  Leave  that  alone.  Every  one  has  done 
his  duty;  and  that  is  the  chief  thing." 

Then,  addressing  Materne:  "  I  have  just  sent  a 
flag  of  truce  to  Framont,  to  bid  the  Germans  carry 
away  their  wounded.  In  an  hour,  I  dare  say,  they 
will  be  here.  Our  sentries  must  be  warned  to  let 
them  approach  if  they  come  without  arms  and  with 
torches.  If  in  any  other  way,  let  them  be  received 
with  a  volley." 

"  I  will  go  at  once,"  answered  the  old  hunter. 

"  Materne,  thou  wilt  afterward  sup  at  the  farm 
with  thy  boys." 

"  Agreed,  Jean-Claude." 

And  he  went  off. 

Hullin  then  bade  Frantz  and  Kasper  light  great 
bivouac  fires;  Marc  was  at  once  to  feed  his  horses, 
so  that  he  might  go  without  delay  to  procure  am- 
munition. Seeing  them  hurrying  away,  Hullin 
turned  into  the  farm. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

ROUND  THE  FESTIVE  BOAED 

AT  the  end  of  the  dark  alley  was  the  yard  of 
the  farm,  into  which  one  descended  by  five  or  six 
well-worn  steps.  On  the  left  were  the  granary  and 
the  wine-press;  to  the  right  the  stables  and  pigeon- 
cot,  the  gables  of  which  stood  out  black  on  the  dark 
cloudy  sky;  and  in  front  of  the  door  was  the 
laundry. 

~No  sound  from  the  outside  reached  the  yard. 
After  so  many  tumultuous  scenes,  Hullin  was  im- 
pressed by  the  deep  silence.  He  looked  up  at  the 
piles  of  straw  hanging  from  the  beams  of  the  gran- 
ary roof,  the  ploughs  and  carts  in  the  shadows  of 
the  outhouses,  and  an  inexpressible  feeling  of  calm 
and  repose  came  over  him.  A  cock  was  roosting 
quietly  among  the  hens  on  the  wall.  A  big  cat, 
darting  quickly  by,  disappeared  through  a  hole  into 
the  cellar.  Hullin  thought  himself  in  a  dream. 

After  a  few  moments  spent  in  silent  contempla- 
tion, he  walked  slowly  toward  the  laundry,  the  three 


212     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

windows  of  which  shone  brightly  in  the  darkness: 
for  the  farm-kitchen  not  being  large  enough  for 
preparing  food  for  three  or  four  hundred  men,  it 
was  now  being  used  for  the  purposes  of  cooking. 

Master  Jean-Claude  heard  Louise's  clear  voice 
giving  orders  in  a  resolute  tone,  which  astonished 
him. 

"  Now,  Katel,  quick!  supper-time  is  near.  Our 
'  people  must  be  hungry.  Since  six  in  the  morning 
they  have  taken  nothing,  and  have  been  fighting 
all  the  time.  They  must  not  be  kept  waiting. 
Come,  bestir  yourself,  Lessele;  bring  the  salt  and 
pepper!  " 

Jean-Claude's  heart  leaped  within  him  at  the 
sound  of  this  voice.  He  could  not  help  gazing  for 
a  minute  through  the  window  before  entering. 

The  kitchen  was  large,  with  low  whitewashed 
ceiling.  A  beechwood  fire  crackled  on  the  hearth, 
its  red  flames  encircling  the  sides  of  an  immense 
kettle.  The  charming  figure  of  Louise,  wearing 
her  short  petticoat  so  as  to  move  unimpeded,  a 
bright  color  in  her  face,  the  short  red  body  of  her 
dress  leaving  uncovered  her  round  shoulders  and 
white  neck,  stood  out  clearly  in  the  foreground. 
She  was  in  all  the  bustle  of  the  occasion,  coming 
and  going,  tasting  the  soup  and  sauces  with  a  know- 
ing air,  and  approving  and  criticising  everything. 


ROUND   THE   FESTIVE   BOARD 


213 


"  A  little  more  salt !  Lessele,  have  you  almost 
done  plucking  that  great  lean  cock?  At  this  rate 
we  shall  never  have  finished!  " 

It  was  delightful  to  see  her  thus  busily  com- 
manding. It  brought  tears  into  Hullin's  eyes. 

The  two  daughters  of  the  anabaptist — one  tall, 
thin,  and  pale,  with  her  large  flat  feet  encased  in 
round  shoes,  her  red  hair  fastened  up  in  a  little  black 
cap,  her  blue  stuff  dress  falling  in  folds  to  her  heels; 
the  other  fat,  slowly  lifting  up  one  foot  after  the 
other,  and  waddling  along  like  a  duck — forming  a 
striking  contrast  to  Louise. 

The  stout  Katel  went  panting  about  without  say- 
ing a  word,  while  Lessele  performed  everything  in 
her  sleepy  methodical  way. 

The  worthy  anabaptist  himself,  seated  at  the  end 
of  the  room,  with  his  legs  crossed  on  a  wooden  chair, 
his  cotton  cap  on  his  head,  and  his  hands  in  his 
blouse  pockets,  looked  on  with  a  wondering  air, 
addressing  to  them  sententious  exhortations  from 
time  to  time:  "Lessele,  Katel!  be  obedient,  my 
children.  Let  this  be  for  your  instruction.  You 
have  not  yet  seen  the  world.  You  must  be  quicker 
and  sharper." 

"Yes,  yes,  you  must  bestir  yourselves,"  added 
Louise.  "  Gracious!  what  should  become  of  us  if 
we  stood  thinking  months  and  weeks  before  put- 


2i4     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

ting  a  little  onion  into  a  sauce!  Lessele,  you  are 
the  tallest,  unhook  me  that  parcel  of  onions  from 
the  ceiling." 

The  girl  obeyed. 

Hullin  had  never  felt  prouder  in  his  life. 

"  How  she  makes  them  move  about!  "  thought 
he.  "Ah!  ha!  ha!  she  is  like  a  little  hussar.  I 
never  should  have  believed  it." 

After  having  watched  them  for  five  minutes,  he 
went  into  the  room. 

"Well  done,  my  children!" 

Louise  was  holding  a  soup-ladle  at  the  time.  She 
let  it  fall,  and  threw  herself  into  his  arms,  crying: 
"  Papa  Jean-Claude,  is  it  you?  you  are  not  wound- 
ed? Nothing  is  the  matter  with  you?  " 

At  the  sound  of  this  voice,  Hullin  turned  pale, 
and  could  make  no  reply.  After  a  long  silence, 
pressing  her  to  his  heart,  he  said:  "  No,  Louise,  I 
am  quite  well;  I  am  very  happy." 

"  Sit  down,  Jean-Claude,"  said  the  anabaptist, 
seeing  him  trembling  with  emotion;  "  here,  take 
my  chair." 

Hullin  sat  down,  and  Louise,  with  her  arms  on 
his  shoulder,  began  to  cry. 

"What  is  the  matter,  my  child?"  said  the 
worthy  man,  kissing  her.  "  Come,  calm  thyself. 
Only  a  few  seconds  ago  thou  wert  so  courageous." 


ROUND   THE   FESTIVE   BOARD  215 

"  Oh,  yes,  but  I  was  only  acting;  I  was  very 
much  afraid.  I  thought,  *  Why  does  he  not 
come?'" 

She  threw  her  arms  round  his  neck.  Then  a 
strange  idea  came  into  her  head.  She  took  him 
by  the  hand,  crying:  "  Papa  Jean-Claude,  let  us 
dance,  let  us  dance !  " 

And  they  made  three  or  four  turns.  Hullin 
could  not  help  laughing,  and  turning  toward  the 
grave  anabaptist,  said:  "  We  are  rather  mad,  Pels- 
ly;  do  not  let  that  astonish  you." 

"  l^To,  Master  Hullin,  it  is  quite  natural.  King 
David  himself  danced  before  the  ark  after  his  great 
victory  over  the  Philistines." 

Jean-Claude,  astonished  to  find  that  he  was  like 
King  David,  made  no  reply. 

'*  And  thou,  Louise,"  he  continued,  stopping, 
"  thou  wert  not  afraid  during  this  last  battle? " 

"  Oh,  at  first,  with  all  the  noise  and  the  roaring 
of  the  cannons;  but  afterward  I  only  thought  of 
you  and  of  Mamma  Lefevre." 

Master  Jean-Claude  grew  silent  again. 

"  I  knew,"  thought  he,  "  that  she  was  a  brave 
girl.  She  has  everything  in  her  favor." 

Louise  taking  him  by  the  hand,  then  led  him  to 
a  regiment  of  pans  around  the  fire,  and  showed  him 
with  delight  he*  Htchen. 


2i6     THE  INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

"  Here  is  the  beef  and  roast  mutton,  here  is 
General  Jean-Claude's  supper,  and  here  is  the  soup 
for  our  wounded.  Haven't  we  been  busy!  Lessele 
and  Katel  would  tell  you  so.  And  here  is  our 
bread,"  said  she,  pointing  to  a  long  row  of  loaves 
arranged  on  the  table.  "Mamma  Lefevre  and  I 
mixed  up  the  flour." 

Hullin  looked  on  astonished. 

"But  that  is  not  all,"  said  she;  "come  over 
here." 

She  took  off  the  lid  of  a  saucepan,  and  the  kitchen 
was  immediately  filled  with  a  savory  odor  which 
would  have  rejoiced  the  heart  of  a  gourmand. 

Jean-Claude  was  deeply  touched  by  all  these 
proofs  of  attention  to  the  wants  of  his  men. 

Just  then  Mother  Lefevre  came  in. 

"Well,"  said  she,  "prepare  the  table;  every- 
body is  waiting  over  there.  Come,  Katel,  go  and 
lay  the  cloth." 

The  girl  went  running  out  to  do  so. 

They  all  crossed  the  dark  yard  and  made  their 
way  toward  the  large  room.  Doctor  Lorquin,  Du- 
bois,  Marc  Dives,  Materne,  and  his  two  boys,  all 
very  hungry,  were  awaiting  the  soup  impatiently. 

"  How  about  our  wounded,  doctor?  "  said  Hullin, 
on  entering. 

"  They  have  all  been  attended  to,  Master  Jean- 


ROUND   THE   FESTIVE   BOARD  217 

Claude.  You  have  given  us  plenty  of  work  to  do; 
but  the  weather  is  favorable;  there  is  nothing  to 
fear  from  putrid  fevers;  things  wear  a  pleasant  as- 
pect." 

Katel,  Lessele,  and  Louise  soon  came  in  bear- 
ing an  immense  tureen  of  smoking  soup  and  two 
sirloins  of  roast  beef,  which  they  deposited  on  the 
table.  They  all  sat  down  without  ceremony — old 
Materne  to  the  right  of  Jean-Claude,  Catherine 
Lefevre  to  the  left;  and  from  that  time  the  clatter 
of  spoons  and  forks  and  the  gurgling  of  the  bottles 
took  the  place  of  conversation  till  half-past  eight 
in  the  evening.  The  glow  which  might  be  seen 
from  the  outside  upon  the  windows,  proved  that 
the  volunteers  were  doing  justice  to  Louise's  cook- 
ery, which  contributed  greatly  to  the  enjoyment  of 
her  guests. 

At  nine  o'clock  Marc  Dives  was  on  his  way  to 
Falkenstein  with  the  prisoners.  At  ten  everybody 
was  asleep  at  the  farm,  on  the  plateau,  and  around 
the  watchfires.  The  silence  was  only  broken  by 
the  passing  of  the  patrols  and  the  challenge  of  the 
sentinels. 

Thus  terminated  this  great  day,  after  the  moun- 
taineers had  proved  that  they  had  not  degenerated 
from  their  ancestors. 

Other  events,  not  less  important,  were  soon  to 


2i8     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

succeed  those  which  had  already  taken  place:  for 
in  this  world,  when  one  obstacle  is  surmounted, 
others  present  themselves.  Human  life  resembles 
a  restless  sea:  one  wave  follows  another  from  the 
old  world  to  the  new,  and  nothing  arrests  its  ever- 
lasting movement. 


CHAPTEK 

THE  CAVE  OF  LUITPRANDT 

ALL  through  the  battle,  till  the  close  of  night, 
the  good  people  of  Grandfontaine  had  observed  the 
poor  crazy  Yegof  standing  upon  the  crest  of  the 
Little  Donon,  and,  his  crown  on  his  head,  with  his 
sceptre  held  aloft,  like  a  Merovingian  king,  shout- 
ing commands  to  his  phantom  armies.  What  passed 
through  his  mind  when  he  saw  the  utter  rout  of 
the  Germans  no  one  can  say;  but  at  the  last  cannon- 
shot  he  disappeared.  Where  did  he  betake  himself? 
On  this  point  the  people  of  Tiefenbach  have  the 
following  story: — 

At  that  time  there  lived  upon  the  Bocksberg  two 
singular  creatures  —  sisters  —  one  named  "little 
Kateline,"  and  the  other  "  great  Berbel."  These 
creatures,  who  were  almost  in  tatters,  had  taken  up 
their  abode  in  the  "  Cave  of  Luitprandt,"  so  called, 
according  to  old  chronicles,  because  the  German 
king,  before  invading  Alsace,  had  caused  to  be  in- 
terred in  that  immense  vault  of  red  sandstone  the 
219 


220     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

savage  chiefs  who  had  fallen  in  the  battle  of  Blut- 
feld.  The  hot  spring  which  always  bubbles  in  the 
middle  of  the  cavern  protected  the  eerie  sisters 
from  the  sharp  colds  of  winter;  and  the  wood- 
cutter, Daniel  Horn,  of  Tiefenbach,  had  been  good 
enough  to  fill  up  the  largest  entrance  to  the  rock 
with  heaps  of  brushwood.  By  the  side  of  the  hot 
spring  there  is  another,  cold  as  ice  and  clear  as 
crystal.  Kateline,  who  always  drank  of  its  waters, 
was  scarce  four  foot  high,  thick-set  and  bloated; 
and  her  cowering  figure,  her  round  eyes  and  enor- 
mous goitre,  rendered  her  whole  appearance  pecul- 
iarly suggestive  of  a  big  turkey-hen  in  a  reverie. 
Every  Sunday  she  carried  into  Tiefenbach  a  great 
basket,  which  the  people  of  the  place  filled  with 
boiled  potatoes,  crusts  of  bread,  and  occasionally, 
on  high  days,  with  cakes  and  other  remains  of  their 
festivals; — with  which  she  reascended  breathlessly 
to  her  rocky  home,  muttering,  gibbering,  and  be- 
having in  the  absurdest  way.  Meanwhile  Berbel 
took  care  to  drink  from  the  cold  spring:  she  was 
gaunt,  one-eyed,  scraggy  as  a  bat,  with  a  flat  nose, 
large  ears,  a  gleaming  eye,  and  thrived  upon  the 
booty  obtained  by  her  sister.  Seldom  did  she  de- 
scend from  the  Bocksberg,  except  in  July,  at  the 
time  of  greatest  heat — when  she  proceeded  to  launch 
her  incantations — her  enchanting-wand  a  withered 


THE   CAVE   OF    LUITPRANDT  221 

thistle — against  the  crops  of  those  who  had  failed 
to  contribute  to  her  sister's  basket.  These  impre- 
cations were  always  believed  to  be  followed  by  dire 
storms,  hail,  and  destructive  vermin  without  stint: 
whence  they  came  to  be  dreaded  as  the  plague,  and 
the  hag  herself  to  be  regarded  as  a  weather-witch 
(Wetter  Jicxe),  while  "  little  Kateline  "  was  looked 
upon  as  the  good  genius  of  Tiefenbach  and  its 
neighborhood.  In  such  wise  Berbel  folded  her 
arms  and  took  her  ease  in  her  cave,  while  her  sister 
went  gibbering  along  the  highways. 

Unfortunately  for  the  sisters,  Yegof  had  for 
many  years  established  his  winter-quarters  in 
"  Luitprandt's  cavern;  "  and  it  was  thence  he  set 
forth  every  spring  on  a  visit  to  his  innumerable 
chateaux  and  feudatories,  as  far  as  Geierstein  in  the 
Hundsriick.  Every  year,  therefore,  toward  the  end 
of  November,  after  the  first  snows,  he  arrived  with, 
his  raven,  to  the  accompaniment  of  piercing  cries 
from  Wetterhexe. 

"  What  have  you  to  grumble  at  ?  "  he  would  say, 
while  installing  himself  in  the  place  of  honor. 
"  Are  you  not  intruders  upon  my  domain,  and 
am  I  not  truly  good  to  permit  two  such  useless 
old  hags  (Valkyries)  to  stay  in  the  Valhalla  of 
my  fathers?" 

Then  Berbel,  in  a  rage,  used  to  overwhelm  him 


222     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE  IN   1814 

with  abuse,  while  Kateline  gave  vent  to  her  dissat- 
isfaction in  thick  unintelligible  utterances;  but  he, 
regardless  of  both,  lit  his  old  box  pipe  and  set  him- 
self to  describe  his  endless  peregrinations  to  the 
ghosts  of  the  German  warriors  buried  in  the  cavern 
sixteen  centuries  before,  calling  upon  each  of  them 
by  name,  and  addressing  them  as  personages  still 
living.  From  this  it  will  be  understood  with  what 
disgust  the  arrival  of  the  maniac  came  to  be  re- 
garded by  Kateline  and  Berbel;  in  fact  for  both 
it  was  nothing  less  than  a  calamity. 

Now  in  the  year  we  are  speaking  of,  Yegof,  hav- 
ing failed  to  return  to  them  at  the  proper  time,  in- 
duced the  sisters  to  believe  that  he  was  dead  and  to 
rejoice  at  the  idea  of  seeing  no  more  of  him.  But 
for  many  days  Wetterhexe  had  remarked  an  extra- 
ordinary movement  going  on  in  the  neighboring 
gorges,  and  men  marching  off  in  bodies,  shouldering 
their  muskets,  from  the  sides  of  Falkenstein  and 
Donon.  Clearly  something  was  taking  place  out 
of  the  common.  Recollecting  that  the  year  before 
Yegof  had  informed  the  phantoms  of  the  cave  that 
his  armies,  in  countless  hosts,  were  coming  to  in- 
vade the  country,  the  sorceress  was  seized  with  a 
vague  apprehension  and  anxiety  to  learn  the  cause 
of  so  much  agitation;  but  no  one  came  up  to  the 
cave,  and  Kateline  having  made  her  rounds  on  the 


THE  CAVE  OF   LUITPRANDT  223 

previous  Sunday,  could  not  have  been  induced  to 
stir  out  for  the  gift  of  a  kingdom. 

In  this  state  of  apprehension,  Wetterhexe  went 
and  came  upon  the  side  of  the  mountain  and  be- 
came hourly  more  restless  and  irritable.  During 
the  whole  of  that  Saturday  events  assumed  quite 
another  aspect.  From  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning 
deep  and  heavy  explosions  began  to  growl  like  a 
continuous  storm  among  the  thousand  echoes  of  the 
mountain;  while  far  away  in  the  direction  of  Do- 
non,  the  swift  lightnings  swept  up  across  the  sky 
among  the  peaks;  then  toward  night  the  discharges 
deepening  in  intensity  filled  the  silent  gorges 
with  an  indescribable  tumult.  At  every  report 
the  Hengst,  the  Gantzlee,  the  Giromani,  and  the 
Grosmann  cliffs  seemed  to  echo  to  their  lowest 
depths. 

"  What  can  it  be  ?  "  cried  Berbel.  "  Has  the  end 
of  the  world  come?  " 

Then  re-entering  her  lurking-place,  and  finding 
Kateline  crouched  in  her  corner  and  munching  a 
potato,  Berbel  shook  her  roughly  and  hissed  out: 
— "Fool!  have  you  got  no  ears?  Is  there  any- 
thing that  you  fear?  You  are  good  for  nothing  but 
eating,  drinking,  and  mumbling.  Oh,  you  idiot!  " 

She  snatched  away  the  potato  in  a  rage,  and  then 
seated  herself  by  the  side  of  the  hot  spring,  which 


524     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

was  sending  up  its  gray  fumes  to  the  roof.  Half  an 
hour  after,  the  darkness  having  become  intense  and 
the  cold  excessive,  she  made  a  fire  of  brushwood, 
which  shed  its  pale  gleams  upon  the  blocks  of  red 
sandstone  and  lit  up  the  farthest  corner  of  the  cave, 
where  Kateline  was  now  asleep,  huddled  in  the  straw, 
with  her  chin  upon  her  knees.  Without,  the  noisy 
tumult  had  ceased.  Then  withdrawing  the  brush- 
wood curtain  from  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  she  peered 
out  into  the  darkness,  and  returned  to  crouch  down 
by  the  spring.  With  her  large  lips  compressed,  her 
eyes  closed,  and  the  great  round  wrinkles  playing 
upon  her  cheeks,  she  drew  round  her  knees  an  old 
woollen  covering,  and  appeared  to  fall  asleep. 
Throughout  the  cavern  there  was  no  sound,  except 
that  of  the  congealed  vapor,  which  fell  back  at  long 
intervals  into  the  spring  with  a  strange  splashing 
noise. 

This  silence  lasted  for  about  two  hours;  mid- 
night was  approaching,  when  all  of  a  sudden  a  dis- 
tant sound  of  footsteps,  mingled  with  discordant 
cries,  was  heard  outside  the  cave.  Berbel  listened, 
and  at  once  perceived  that  they  were  human  cries. 
Then  she  rose,  trembling,  and,  armed  with  her  this- 
tle-wand, proceeded  to  the  entrance  of  the  cave; 
whence,  through  the  screen  of  brushwood,  she  saw, 
at  fifty  paces  distant,  Yegof  advancing  toward  her 


THE   CAVE   OF   LUITPRANDT  225 

in  the  moonlight.  He  was  alone,  but  gesticulating 
and  waving  his  sceptre,  as  if  myriads  of  invisible 
beings  were  about  him. 

"  Hark,  ye  red  men !  "  he  was  shrieking,  with 
beard  sticking  up  on  end,  his  hair  streaming  about 
his  head,  and  his  dog-skin  upon  his  arm.  "  Hark, 
ye  red  men!  Roog!  Bled!  Adelrik!  hark!  Will 
ye  not  hear  me  at  last?  Do  you  not  see  they  are 
coming?  Behold  them  cleaving  the  sky  like  vult- 
ures. Hark  to  me.  Let  this  miserable  race  be  an- 
nihilated !  Ha,  ha !  it  is  you,  Minau !  it  is  you,  Ro- 
chart  ...  ha!  ha!"  And  addressing  the  dead 
upon  the*T)onon,  he  called  upon  them  defiantly,  as  if 
they  werp  standing  before  him;  and  then  fell  back 
a  step  at  a 'time,  striking  the  air,  uttering  impreca- 
tions, encouraging  his  phantoms,  and  casting  about 
him  as  if  in  close  fight.  The  sight  of  this  terrible 
struggle  against  beings  who  were  invisible  caused 
Berbel  to  shudder  with  fright,  and  to  fancy  her  hair 
stiffening  upon  her  head.  She  sought  to  hide  her- 
self; but  just  at  the  moment  a  strange  noise  from, 
behind  drew  her  attention,  and  her  terror  may  be 
imagined  when  she  saw  the  hot  spring  bubbling 
with  more  than  usual  activity  and  sending  out 
clouds  of  steam,  which  rose  and  broke  away  in  sep- 
arate masses  toward  the  entrance  of  the  cavern ;  and 
while  these  clouds  like  phantoms  were  slowly  ad- 
15 


226     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

vancing  in  close  order,  Yegof  appeared  upon  the 
scene,  shouting  hoarsely: — 

"  You  come  at  last!   you  heard  me  then!  " 

Thus  saying,  he  removed  with  an  impatient  ef- 
fort all  obstructions  from  the  mouth  of  the  cave: 
the  cold  air  rushed  down  the  vault  and  the  steam- 
ing vapors  rose  far  into  the  sky,  writhing  and 
glancing  above  the  cliff,  as  if  the  slain  of  that 
day  and  those  of  the  ages  gone  by  had  recom- 
menced beyond  the  earth  a  battle  that  would 
never  end. 

Yegof,  with  face  which  appeared  shrunken  in  the 
pale  moonlight,  his  sceptre  held  high,  his  grfeat  beard 
flowing  down  his  breast,  and  his  eyes  flaming,  sa- 
luted each  phantom  with  a  wave  of  the  hand,  ad- 
dressing it  by  name: 

"Hail,  Bled!  Roog,  hail!  and  you,  my  brave 
men,  all  hail!  The  hour  you  have  been  expecting 
for  ages  is  at  hand:  the  eagles  are  whetting  their 
beaks  and  the  soil  is  thirsting  for  blood.  Remember 
Blutfeld!" 

At  this  point  Berbel's  terror  seemed  to  hold  her 
transfixed ;  but  soon  the  last  volumes  of  gray  mist 
disappeared  out  of  the  cavern  and  melted  into  the 
sky.  Seeing  which  the  crazy  montagnard  marched 
fiercely  into  the  cave,  and  seating  himself  by  the 
spring,  with  his  great  head  between  his  hands,  and 


YlSGOF  SALUTED  EACH  PHANTOM  WITH  SPARKLING  EVES. 


THE   CAVE   OF   LUITPRANDT  227 

his  elbows  on  his  knees,  looked  down  into  the  boil- 
ing water  with  a  haggard  stare. 

Kateline  was  now  awake  and  venting  her  gut- 
tural moans;  while  Wetterhexe,  more  dead  than 
alive,  was  furtively  watching  the  maniac  from  the 
farthest  corner  of  the  cave. 

"  They  have  all  gone  up  from  the  earth!  "  ex- 
claimed Yegof,  suddenly.  "All,  all!  They  have 
gone  to  reanimate  the  courage  of  my  youths,  and 
inspire  them  with  contempt  of  death!  " 

And  again  lifting  up  his  face,  which  seemed  im- 
pressed with  deep  anguish,  he  cried,  fixing  his  wolf- 
ish eyes  on  Wetterhexe: — 

"Oh,  thou  descendant  of  the  sterile  valkyries, 
thou  who  hast  nurtured  within  thy  bosom  no  life- 
breath  of  warriors,  nor  ever  filled  their  deep  gob- 
lets at  the  festive  board,  nor  regaled  them  with  the 
smoking  flesh  of  the  wild  boar,  for  what  purpose 
art  thou  good?  To  spin  shrouds  for  the  dead.  Ha! 
take  thy  distaff  and  spin  night  and  day;  for  thou- 
sands of  brave  men  are  slumbering  in  the  snow! 
.  .  .  They  fought  well.  .  .  .  Yes,  they  did  all  that 
men  could  do;  but  the  time  had  not  come,  .  .  . 
now  the  ravens  are  fighting  for  their  carcasses!  " 

Then  in  accents  of  uncontrollable  rage,  snatch- 
ing the  crown  off  his  head  together  with  handfuls 
of  hair — "  Ah,  cursed  race,"  he  exclaimed,  "  will 


228     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

you  always  be  barring  our  passage?  Were  it  not 
for  you  we  had  already  conquered  Europe ;  the  red 
men  would  have  been  masters  of  the  world.  .  .  . 
And  I  have  bowed  my  head  before  the  leader  of 
this  race  of  curs.  ...  I  asked  him  for  his  daughter, 
instead  of  seizing  and  carrying  her  away  as  the 
wolf  carries  the  lamb!  .  .  .  Ah!  Huldrix,  Hul- 
drix!  " 

Then  changing  this  rhapsody — "  Listen,  listen, 
valkyrie!  "  he  cried  in  a  hoarse  voice,  and  pointing 
his  finger  with  great  solemnity. 

Wetterhexe  listened.  A  great  gust  of  wind  rose 
up  through  the  night,  shaking  the  old  forest-trees 
heavy  with  their  load  of  frost.  Often  and  often 
had  the  sorceress  in  the  winter  nights  heard  the 
soughing  of  the  north  wind  and  paid  it  no  attention, 
but  now  she  was  overwhelmed  with  fear!  And  as 
she  stood  there  all  trembling,  a  hoarse  cry  was  heard 
without;  and  almost  at  the  same  time  the  raven 
Hans,  sweeping  beneath  the  rock,  set  himself  to 
describe  great  circles  overhead,  napping  his  wings 
with  a  frightened  air,  and  uttering  melancholy 
cries. 

Yegof  became  pale  as  death.  "  Yod,  Vod !  what 
has  thy  son  Luitprandt  done  for  thee?  Why  choose 
him  rather  than  another?  " 

For  some  seconds  he  stood  as  though  amazed ,: 


THE   CAVE   OF   LUITPRANDT  229 

then,  suddenly  transported  by  savage  enthusiasm 
and  brandishing  his  sceptre,  he  dashed  out  of  the 
cavern. 

Two  minutes  afterward,  Wetterhexe,  standing 
at  the  entrance  of  the  rock,  followed  him  with  anx- 
ious eyes. 

He  went  straight  on,  with  neck  stretched  for- 
ward and  long  strides.  You  would  have  thought 
him  a  wild  beast  upon  the  prowl.  Hans  went  be- 
fore him,  hopping  from  place  to  place. 

In  a  moment  they  disappeared  down  the  Blut- 
f  eld  gorge. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

GASPARD'S    LETTER 

TOWARD  two  o'clock  the  next  morning,  snow 
began  to  fall.  At  daybreak  the  Germans  had  left 
Grandfontaine,  Framont,  and  even  Schirmeck.  In 
the  distance,  on  the  plains  of  Alsace,  could  be  seen 
the  black  lines,  which  indicated  their  retreating 
battalions. 

Ilullin  arose  early  and  made  the  round  of  the 
bivouacs.  He  stopped  for  a  few  seconds  on  the 
plateau,  to  look  at  the  cannons  in  position,  the 
sleeping  partisans,  and  the  watchful  sentries;  then, 
satisfied  with  his  inspection,  he  re-entered  the  farm, 
where  Louise  and  Catherine  were  still  asleep. 

The  gray  light  was  spreading  everywhere.  A 
few  wounded  in  the  next  room  were  growing  fe- 
verish; they  were  calling  for  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren. Soon  the  hum  of  voices  and  the  noise  of 
busy  feet  broke  the  stillness  of  the  night.  Cathe- 
rine and  Louise  awoke.  They  saw  Jean-Claude  sit- 
ting in  a  corner  of  the  window  watching  them,  and 
230 


GASPARD'S   LETTER 


231 


ashamed  of  having  slept  longer  than  he,  they  arose 
and  approached  him. 

"Well?  "asked  Catherine. 

"  Well,  they  have  left;  and  we  are  masters  of 
the  field,  as  I  expected." 

This  assurance  did  not  appear  to  satisfy  the  old 
darne.  She  looked  through  the  window  to  see  for 
herself  that  the  Germans  were  retreating  into  Al- 
sace; and  during  the  whole  of  that  day  she  seemed 
both  anxious  and  troubled. 

Between  eight  and  nine  the  cure  Saumaize  came 
in  from  the  village  of  Charmes.  Some  moun- 
taineers then  descended  the  slopes  to  pick  up  the 
dead,  and  dug  a  deep  pit  to  the  right  of  the  farm, 
where  partisans  and  "  kaiserlichs,"  with  their 
clothes,  hats,  shakos,  and  uniforms,  were  laid  side 
by  side.  The  cure  Saumaize,  a  tall  old  man  with 
white  hair,  read  the  prayers  for  the  dead  in  that 
solemn,  mysterious  voice  which  seems  to  penetrate 
to  the  depths  of  one's  soul,  and  to  summon  from 
the  tomb  the  spirits  of  extinct  generations  to  attest 
to  the  living  the  terrors  of  the  grave. 

All  day  carts  and  sledges  continued  to  arrive  to 
carry  away  the  wounded,  who  demanded,  with 
loud  cries,  to  be  allowed  to  see  their  villages  once 
more.  Doctor  Lorquin,  fearing  to  increase  their 
irritation,  was  forced  to  consent.  And  toward  four 


232     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

o'clock,  Catherine  and  Hullin  were  alone  in  the 
great  room:  Louise  had  gone  out  to  prepare  the 
supper.  Outside,  large  flakes  of  snow  continued 
to  fall,  and,  from  time  to  time,  a  sledge  might  be 
seen  silently  passing  along,  bearing  a  wounded  man 
laid  in  straw.  Catherine,  seated  near  the  table,  was 
folding  bandages  with  an  absent  air. 

"  What  ails  you,  Catherine? "  demanded  Hul- 
lin. "  You  have  seemed  so  thoughtful  since  morn- 
ing: and  yet  our  affairs  are  going  on  well." 

The  old  dame,  pushing  the  linen  slowly  away 
from  her,  replied, — "  Yes,  Jean-Claude,  I  am  un- 
easy." 

"  Uneasy  about  what?  The  enemy  is  in  full  re- 
treat. Only  this  moment,  Frantz  Materne,  whom 
I  had  sent  to  reconnoitre,  and  all  the  messengers 
from  Piorette,  Jerome,  and  Labarbe,  told  me  that 
the  Germans  are  returning  to  Mutzig.  Old  Ma- 
terne and  Kasper,  having  gathered  up  the  dead, 
learned  at  Grandfontaine  that  nothing  is  to  be  seen 
in  the  direction  of  Saint-Blaize-la-Roche.  All  this 
proves  that  our  Spanish  dragoons  gave  the  enemy 
a  warm  reception  on  the  way  to  Senones,  and  that 
they  fear  an  attack  from  Schirmeck.  "What  is  it, 
then,  Catherine,  that  troubles  you?  " 

And  seeing  that  Hullin  looked  at  her  inquir- 
ingly, "You  may  laugh  at  .me,"  said  she;  "but  I 
have  had  a  dream." 


GASPARD'S   LETTER  233 

"A  dream?" 

"  Yes,  the  same  as  at  the  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes."  And  getting  animated,  she  continued, 
in  an  almost  angry  tone,  "  You  may  say  what  you 
like,  Jean-Claude,  but  a  great  danger  menaces  us. 
Yes,  yes!  you  don't  see  any  sense  in  all  this;  but 
it  was  not  a  dream,  it  was  like  an  old  tale  which 
comes  back  to  one:  something  one  sees  in  sleep  and 
remembers.  Listen !  We  were  as  we  are  now,  after 
a  great  victory — in  some  place — I  don't  know 
where — in  a  sort  of  large  wooden  shed,  with  beams 
across  it,  and  palisades  around.  We  were  not 
thinking  of  anything:  all  the  faces  I  saw  I  knew: 
you  were  among  them,  Marc  Dives,  Duchene,  and 
old  men  already  dead:  my  father  and  old  Hugues 
Rochart  of  Harberg,  the  uncle  of  him  who  has  just 
died:  and  they  all  had  coarse  gray  cloth  blouses, 
with  long  beards  and  bare  necks.  We  had  won  a 
like  victory,  and  were  drinking  out  of  red  earthen- 
ware pots,  when  a  cry  arose :  '  The  enemy  is  com- 
ing! '  And  Yegof,  on  horseback,  with  his  long 
beard  and  pointed  crown,  an  axe  in  his  hand,  and 
with  his  eyes  gleaming  like  a  wolf's,  appeared  be- 
fore me  in  the  darkness.  I  rushed  on  him  with  a 
club,  he  waited  for  me — and  from  that  moment  I 
saw  no  more.  I  only  felt  a  great  pain  in  my  neck; 
a  cold  wind  passed  over  my  face,  and  my  head 


234     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

seemed  to  be  dangling  at  the  end  of  a  cord:  it  was 
that  wretched  Yegof  who  had  hung  my  head  to 
his  saddle  and  was  galloping  away !  " 

There  was  a  short  pause;  and  then  Jean-Claude, 
rousing  from  his  stupor,  replied:  "It  is  a  dream. 
I  also  have  had  dreams.  Yesterday  you  were 
agitated,  Catherine,  by  all  that  tumult,  that 
noise." 

"  No,"  she  exclaimed  in  a  firm  tone,  taking  up 
her  task  again:  "  no,  it  was  not  that.  And  to  tell 
you  the  truth,  during  the  battle,  and  even  when 
the  cannons  were  thundering  against  us,  I  was  not 
afraid;  I  was  certain  beforehand  that  we  should 
not  be  beaten;  I  had  seen  it  long  ago.  But  now 
I  am  afraid." 

"  But  the  Germans  have  evacuated  Schirmeck; 
the  whole  line  of  the  Vosges  is  defended.  We  have 
more  men  than  we  need;  they  are  coming  every 
minute  in  great  numbers." 

"  No  matter." 

Hullin  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Come,  come!  you  are  feverish,  Catherine;  try 
to  be  calm,  and  think  of  pleasanter  things.  As  for 
all  these  dreams,  you  see,  I  make  no  more  account 
of  them  than  I  do  of  the  Grand  Turk,  with  his 
pipe  and  blue  stockings.  The  chief  thing  is  to  keep 
a  good  look-out,  and  to  have  plenty  of  ammunition, 


GASPARD'S   LETTER  235 

men,  and  guns:  that  is  infinitely  better  than  the 
most  rose-colored  dreams." 

"  You  are  mocking  me,  Jean-Claude." 

"  No;  but  to  hear  a  sensible,  courageous  woman 
speak  as  you  do,  reminds  one  in  spite  of  himself 
of  Yegof,  who  pretends  to  have  lived  sixteen  hun- 
dred years  ago." 

"  Who  knows? "  said  the  old  woman,  in  an  ob- 
stinate tone ;  "  it  is  possible  he  may  remember  what 
others  have  forgotten." 

Hullin  was  going  to  relate  to  her  his  conversa- 
tion of  the  evening  before  at  the  bivouac-fire  with 
the  madman,  thus  hoping  to  overthrow  all  her 
gloomy  fancies;  but  seeing  she  agreed  with  Yegof 
about  the  sixteen  hundred  years,  the  worthy  man 
said  no  more,  but  resumed  his  walk  up  and  down, 
with  his  head  bent  and  an  anxious  face:  "  She  is 
mad,"  thought  he ;  "  one  more  shock  and  it  is  all 
over  with  her!  " 

Catherine  after  a  pause  was  going  to  speak,  when 
Louise  entered  like  a  swallow,  calling  out,  in  her 
sweetest*  voice,  "  Maman  Lef  evre,  Maman  Lef  evre, 
a  letter  from  Gaspard !  " 

Whereupon  the  old  farm-wife,  whose  hooked 
nose  almost  touched  her  lips,  so  angry  was  she  to 
see  Hullin  turning  her  dream  into  ridicule,  raised 
her  head,  the  long  wrinkles  in  her  face  relaxing. 


236     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

She  took  the  letter,  looked  at  the  red  seal,  and 
said  to  the  young  girl:  "  Embrace  me,  Louise:  it 
is  a  good  letter!  "  And  Louise  at  once  embraced 
her  with  joy. 

Hullin  came  close  up  to  them,  delighted  at  this 
incident;  and  the  postman  Brainstein,  his  big  boots 
dyed  red  with  the  snow,  his  two  hands  on  his  stick, 
and  drooping  his  shoulders,  stationed  himself  at  the 
door  with  a  tired  look. 

The  old  dame  put  on  her  spectacles,  slowly 
opened  the  letter  under  the  impatient  eyes  of  Jean- 
Claude  and  Louise,  and  read  aloud: — 

"  This,  my  mother,  is  to  announce  to  you  that 
all  goes  well,  and  that  I  reached  Phalsbourg  on 
Tuesday  evening  just  as  the  gates  were  being  closed. 
The  Cossacks  were  already  on  the  Saverne  road; 
we  had  to  fire  all  night  against  their  advanced 
guard.  The  following  day,  an  envoy  was  sent  de- 
manding the  surrender  of  the  place.  The  com- 
mandant, Meunier,  told  him  to  go  and  be  hanged; 
and  three  days  after  great  showers  of  bombs  and 
shells  began  to  rain  upon  the  town.  The  Russians 
have  three  batteries — one  on  the  side  of  Mittel- 
bronn,  the  other  at  the  Baraques  above,  and  the 
third  behind  the  tilery  of  Pernette  near  the  drink- 
ing-t'^nk;  but  the  red-hot  shot  do  us  the  most  harm: 
they  burn  down  the  houses,  and  when  a  fire  has 


GASPARD'S   LETTER  237 

broken  out  the  bombs  then  come  in  quantities  and 
prevent  the  people  from  extinguishing  it.  The 
women  and  children  do  not  leave  the  block-houses; 
the  townsmen  remain  with  us  on  the  ramparts :  they 
are  fine  fellows.  Among  them  are  some  old  soldiers 
of  the  Sambre-et-Meuse,  Italy,  and  Egypt,  who 
have  not  forgotten  how  to  manage  the  guns.  -I  felt 
sorry  to  see  the  graybeards  bending  over  the  carron- 
ades  to  take  aim.  I  will  answer  for  it  that  there  are 
no  balls  lost  with  them;  but  all  the  same,  when  one 
has  made  the  world  tremble,  it  is  hard  to  be  obliged, 
in  one's  old  days,  to  fight  for  one's  home  and  last 
morsel  of  bread." 

"  Yes,  it  is  hard,"  exclaimed  Catherine,  drying 
her  eyes.  "  Only  to  think  of  it  makes  one's  heart 
bleed." 

Then  she  continued: — 

"  The  day  before  yesterday,  the  governor  de- 
cided on  our  making  a  sortie  against  the  tile-kiln 
battery.  You  must  know  that  these  Russians  break 
the  ice  of  the  tank,  and  bathe  in  it,  in  groups  of 
from  twenty  to  thirty;  afterward  drying  themselves 
in  the  oven  of  the  brick-kiln.  Well!  about  four 
o'clock,  as  the  day  was  closing,  we  went  out  by  the 
Arsenal  gateway,  ascending  the  covered  way,  and 
filing  along  the  Allee-des-Vaches,  with  our  muskets 
under  our  arms,  and  marching  at  the  double.  Ten 


238     THE    INVASION    OF   FRANCE    IN    1814 

minutes  after  we  commenced  a  rolling  fire  on  the 
men  that  were  in  the  tank.  Then  their  comrades 
rushed  out  of  the  brick-kilns:  they  had  only  time 
to  put  on  their  cartouche-boxes,  seize  their  muskets, 
and  form,  all  naked  as  they  were,  on  the  snow,  like 
regular  savages.  Notwithstanding  that,  the  rogues 
were  ten  times  more  numerous  than  we,  and  they 
began  a  movement  to  the  right,  in  the  direction  of 
the  little  chapel  of  St.  John,  in  order  to  surround 
us,  when  the  guns  from  the  Arsenal  began  to  send 
such  a  storm  of  shot  at  them  as  I  never  saw  before; 
it  carried  whole  files  clean  off.  A  quarter  of  an 
hour  later  they  retreated  in  a  body  to  Quatre- Vents, 
without  waiting  to  pick  up  their  breeches — their 
officers  at  their  head,  and  the  hail  from  the  fortress 
bringing  up  the  rear.  Papa  Jean-Claude  would 
have  laughed  at  the  rout  immensely.  At  last,  to- 
ward nightfall,  we  returned  to  the  town,  having 
destroyed  one  of  their  batteries  and  thrown  two 
eight-pounders  into  the  well  of  the  kiln.  It  was 
our  first  sortie.  I  am  now  writing  to  you  from  the 
Baraques  du  Bois-de-Chenes,  where  we  have  been 
sent  to  get  provisions  for  the  fortress.  All  this 
may  last  months.  It  is  said  that  the  allies  are  reas- 
cending  the  valley  of  Dosenheim  as  far  as  Weschem, 
and  that  thousands  of  them  are  marching  on  Paris. 
Oh,  if  the  Emperor  once  obtained  the  upper  hand 


GASPARD'S   LETTER  239 

in  Lorraine  and  Champagne,  not  one  of  them  would 
escape!  But  who  lives  will  see.  They  are  sound- 
ing the  retreat  on  Phalsbourg.  We  have  collected 
a  pretty  good  number  of  oxen,  cows,  and  goats 
about  here;  but  shall  have  to  fight  in  order  to  get 
them  in  safely.  Good-by,  my  good  mother,  my 
dearest  Louise,  and  Papa  Jean-Claude.  I  embrace 
you  as  though  I  held  you  in  my  arms." 

At  the  close  of  the  letter,  Catherine  Lefevre  was 
overwhelmed  with  emotion. 

"What  a  brave  boy!"  said  she.  "He  only 
knows  his  duty.  There!  thou  hearest,  Louise ?  He 
embraces  thee!  " 

Louise  then  throwing  herself  into  her  arms,  they 
embraced  each  other;  and  Catherine,  notwithstand- 
ing the  firmness  of  her  character,  could  not  keep 
back  two  large  tears  from  trickling  down  her 
cheeks;  then,  recovering  herself,  "  Come,"  said 
she,  "  all  is  well !  Come,  Brainstein,  you  must  eat 
some  meat  and  drink  a  glass  of  wine.  And  here  is 
a  crown-piece  for  your  journey;  I  would  give  you 
the  same  sum  every  day  of  the  week  for  such  a 
letter." 

The  postman,  delighted  with  his  present,  followed 
the  old  dame.  Louise  walked  after  them,  and  Jean- 
Claude,  also,  being  eager  to  interrogate  Brain- 
stein  as  to  what  he  had  learnt  on  the  road,  touching 


240     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

the  events  taking  place;  but  he  could  get  nothing 
new  out  of  him,  except  that  the  allies  were  besieg- 
ing Bitsche  and  Lutzelstein,  and  that  they  had  lost 
some  hundreds  of  men  in  trying  to  force  the  Grauf- 
thal  pass. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE    SURPRISE 

TOWARD  ten  o'clock,  Catherine  Lefevre  and 
Louise,  after  having  wished  Hullin  good-night, 
went  up  to  sleep  in  the  room  over  the  large  kitchen; 
in  which  there  were  two  feather-beds,  with  curtains, 
striped  with  blue  and  red,  reaching  to  the  ceiling. 

"  Come,"  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  climbing 
up  to  hers  on  a  chair — "  come,  sleep  well,  my  child. 
As  for  me,  I  am  tired  out,  and  almost  asleep  al- 
ready." 

She  drew  the  bedclothes  round  her,  and  five 
minutes  after  was  sound  asleep.  Louise  soon  fol- 
lowed her  example. 

Now  this  had  lasted  about  two  hours,  when  the 
old  dame  was  awakened  suddenly  by  a  tremendous 
noise. 

"To  arms!  to  arms!  Ho!  this  way  quick!  A 
thousand  thunders!  they  are  upon  us!  " 

Five  or  six  shots  then  followed  each  other,  light- 
ing up  the  dark  windows. 

16  341 


242     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

"To  arms!  to  arms!" 

Then  there  was  more  firing,  and  the  noise  of 
people  rushing  about  everywhere. 

Hullin's  voice,  sharp  and  vibrating,  could  be 
heard  giving  orders. 

Then,  to  the  left  of  the  farm,  a  great  way  off, 
there  came  a  low  dull  crackling  sound,  from  the 
gorges  of  the  Grosmann. 

"  Louise!  Louise!  "  cried  the  old  farm-wife,— 
"  dost  thou  hear?  " 

"Yes!    Oh,  my  God!  it  is  terrible." 

Catherine  sprang  out  of  bed. 

"Get  up,  my  child,"  said  she,  "and  let  us 
dress." 

The  firing  redoubled,  and  flashed  like  lightning 
upon  the  panes. 

"  Attention!  "  shouted  Materne. 

One  could  also  hear  the  neighing  of  a  horse  out- 
side, and  the  tramping  of  a  great  crowd  in  the  alley, 
the  yard,  and  before  the  farm:  the  house  seemed 
shaken  to  its  foundations. 

Suddenly,  the  firing  came  from  the  windows  of 
the  large  room  on  the  ground-floor.  The  two  wom- 
en dressed  in  haste.  Just  at  that  moment,  a  heavy 
foot  creaked  on  the  stairs;  the  door  opened,  and 
Hullin  appeared  with  a  lantern,  showing  signs  of 
great  agitation. 


THE   SURPRISE  243 

"  Make  haste!  "  cried  lie;  "  we  have  not  an  in- 
stant to  lose." 

"  What  has  happened  then  ?  "  asked  Catherine. 

The  fusillade  came  nearer. 

"  Eh !  "  exclaimed  Jean-Claude,  throwing  up  his 
arms,  "  have  I  time  now  to  explain  to  you?  " 

The  old  dame  understood  that  the  only  thing 
to  be  done  was  to  obey.  She  put  on  her  hood  and 
descended  the  staircase  with  Louise.  By  the  flick- 
ering light  of  the  shots,  Catherine  saw  Materne, 
bare-necked,  and  his  son  Kasper,  firing  from  the 
entrance  of  the  alley  upon  the  abatis,  and  ten  others 
behind  handing  them  muskets,  so  that  they  had 
only  to  aim  and  fire.  All  these  men,  in  a  throng, 
loading,  shouldering,  and  firing,  had  a  terrible  as- 
pect. Three  or  four  dead  bodies  lying  against  the 
old  wall  added  to  the  horror  of  the  scene.  The 
smoke  was  at  the  point  of  reaching  the  dwelling. 

Coining  down  the  stairs,  Hullin  cried,  u  Here 
they  are,  thank  heaven!  "  And  all  the  brave  fel- 
lows who  were  there,  looking  up,  cried  out,  "  Cour- 
age, Mother  Lef  evre !  " 

"Whereupon  the  poor  old  lady,  worn  out  by  her 
emotions,  began  to  weep  and  lean  on  Jean-Claude's 
shoulder;  but  he  lifted  her  up  like  a  feather,  and 
ran  along  by  the  wall  to  the  right.  Louise  fol- 
lowed, sobbing  loudly. 


244     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Out  of  doors,  one  could  only  hear  the  whizzing 
of  bullets  and  the  dull  heavy  blows  against  the  wall; 
the  bricks  and  mortar  were  tumbling  down,  the 
tiles  rolling  about;  while  in  front,  near  the  abatis, 
and  three  hundred  yards  off,  one  could  see  the  white 
uniforms  in  line,  lit  up  by  their  own  fire  in  the  dark 
night;  and,  to  their  left,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ravine  of  Minieres,  the  mountaineers  attacking 
them  in  flank. 

Hullin  disappeared  at  the  corner  of  the  farm, 
— where  all  was  in  darkness; — Doctor  Lorquin,  on 
horseback  in  front  of  a  sledge,  having  a  large  cav- 
alry sword  in  his  hand  and  two  pistols  passed 
through  his  belt,  with  Frantz  Materne  and  a  dozen 
other  armed  men,  being  barely  distinguishable. 
Hullin  placed  Catherine  in  the  sledge,  on  some 
straw,  and  Louise  by  her  side. 

"  There  you  are!  "  exclaimed  the  doctor.  "It 
is  well  for  you." 

And  Frantz  Materne  added : — "  If  it  were  not 
for  you,  Mother  Lef evre,  you  may  well  believe  that 
not  one  of  us  would  quit  the  plateau  this  night; 
but  there  is  nothing  to  be  said  since  you  are  in  the 


"  No,"  cried  the  others,  "  there  is  nothing  to  be 
said!" 

Just  at  that  moment,  a  tall  fellow,  with  legs  long 


THE   SURPRISE  245 

as  a  heron's  and  a  round  back,  came  running  behind 
the  wall  and  shouting,  "  They  are  coining!  Fly! 
fly!" 

Hullin  turned  pale. 

"  It  is  the  big  knife-grinder  of  the  Harberg!  " 
he  exclaimed,  grinding  his  teeth. 

Frantz  without  saying  a  word  put  his  musket  to 
his  shoulder,  aimed  and  fired;  and  Louise  saw  the 
grinder  at  thirty  yards  in  the  dim  light,  throw  up 
his  arms  and  fall  face  downward  on  the  ground. 
Frantz  reloaded,  smiling  grimly. 

Hullin  then  said :  "  Comrades,  here  is  our  mother 
— she  who  has  given  us  powder  and  furnished  us 
with  food  for  the  defence  of  our  country;  and  here 
is  my  child:  save  them!  " 

They  all  replied:  "We  will  save,  or  die  with 
them." 

"  And  do  not  forget  to  warn  Dives  to  stay  at  the 
Falkenstein  till  further  orders." 

"  All  right,  Jean-Claude." 

"  Then  forward,  doctor,  forward !  "  cried  the  gal- 
lant man. 

"  And  you,  Hullin?  "  exclaimed  Catherine. 

"  My  place  is  here;  our  position  must  be  de- 
fended till  death !  " 

"Papa  Jean-Claude!"  cried  Louise,  holding 
out  her  arms  to  him. 


246     THE   INVASION    OF    FRANCE   IN    1814 

But  he  had  already  turned  the  corner, — the  doc- 
tor flicked  his  horse,  and  the  sledge  passed  quickly 
along  the  snow.  Frantz  Materne  and  his  men,  with 
their  muskets  on  their  shoulders,  marched  behind; 
while  a  rolling  fire  of  musketry  was  still  kept  up 
around  the  farm. 

That  was  what  Catherine  Lefevre  and  Louise 
saw  in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes.  No  doubt 
something  strange  and  terrible  had  happened  in 
the  night.  The  old  farm-mistress,  recalling  her 
dream,  became  very  thoughtful.  Louise  dried  her 
eyes  and  looked  toward  the  plateau,  which  was 
lighted  up  as  by  a  fire.  The  horse  bounded  away 
under  the  doctor's  whip,  so  that  the  mountaineers 
could  hardly  keep  up.  For  some  distance  the  tu- 
mult and  clamor  of  the  battle,  the  explosions,  and 
whizzing  of  the  balls  among  the  branches,  were  dis- 
tinctly heard;  but  all  this  grew  fainter  and  fainter, 
and  soon,  at  the  descent  of  the  path,  vanished  as  in 
a  dream. 

The  sledge  had  reached  the  opposite  side  of  the 
mountain,  and  was  flying  like  an  arrow  through 
the  darkness.  The  only  sounds  which  broke  the 
silence  were  the  galloping  of  the  horse,  the  quick 
breathing  of  the  escort,  and  from  time  to  time  the 
doctor's  cry,  "  Here,  Bruno!  here  then!  " 

A  current  of  cold  wind,  coming  up  from  the  val- 


THE   SURPRISE  247 

ley  of  the  Sarre,  carried  upon  its  breeze,  like  a 
great  sigh,  the  endless  roar  of  the  torrents  and 
soughing  of  the  woods.  The  moon  was  peering 
out  from  behind  a  cloud,  and  looking  down  on  the 
black  forests  of  Blanru,  with  their  tall  pines  loaded 
with  snow. 

Ten  minutes  later  the  sledge  had  gained  an  angle 
of  the  woods,  and  Doctor  Lorquin,  turning  round 
in  his  saddle,  exclaimed, — "  Now,  Frantz,  what 
have  we  to  do?  Here  is  the  way  which  leads 
toward  the  hills  of  St.  Quirin,  and  there  is  an- 
other road  which  descends  to  Blanru.  Which  shall 
we  take?" 

Frantz  and  the  men  of  the  escort  came  up.  As 
they  were  then  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Donon, 
they  began  to  see  again,  high  in  the  air,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hill,  the  fusillade  of  the  Germans, 
who  were  advancing  by  way  of  the  Grosmann.  First 
they  saw  the  flashes,  and  then  heard  the  rolling 
echoes  in  the  depths  of  the  valleys. 

"The  road  by  the  hills  of  St.  Quirin,"  said 
Frantz,  "  is  the  shortest  cut  to  the  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes;  it  would  save  at  least  three-quarters  of  an 
hour." 

"  Yes,"  rejoined  the  doctor,  "  but  we  should 
risk  being  stopped  by  the  Germans,  who  now  oc- 
cupy the  defile  of  the  Sarre.  See,  they  are  already 


248     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

masters  of  the  heights;  they  have  no  doubt  sent 
detachments  to  the  Sarre-Rouge  in  order  to  turn 
the  Donon." 

"  Let  us  take  the  Blanru  road,  then,"  said 
Frantz;  "  it  is  longer,  but  safer." 

The  sledge  passed  down  the  left  along  the 
woods.  The  partisans,  gun  in  hand,  advanced  one 
after  the  other  along  the  top  of  the  bank,  while  the 
doctor  on  his  horse  swept  along  the  snow  in  the 
roadway.  Above,  the  great  pine-branches  met 
across  the  road,  and  enveloped  it  with  their  deep 
shadows,  while  the  moon  lit  up  the  surrounding 
scenery.  This  road  was  so  majestic  and  pictu- 
resque, that,  under  any  other  circumstances,  Cath- 
erine would  have  been  astonished  at  it,  and  Louise 
would  not  have  failed  to  admire  the  garlands  of 
icicles,  looking  like  crystals  in  the  pale  rays  of  the 
moon;  but  just  then  they  were  filled  with  uneasi- 
ness; and,  moreover,  when  the  sledge  entered  the 
gorge,  all  the  brightness  vanished,  and  only  the 
summits  of  the  high  mountains  around  remained 
visible.  They  had  been  going  in  this  way  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  Catherine,  having  kept 
silence  for  some  time,  at  last  could  contain  herself 
no  longer,  but  exclaimed :  "  Doctor  Lorquin,  now 
that  you  have  us  in  the  depths  of  Blanru,  and  can  do 
with  us  what  you  please,  will  you  explain  to  me 


THE   SURPRISE 


249 


why  we  have  been  dragged  away  by  force?  Jean- 
Claude  carried  me  off,  and  flung  me  on  this  heap 
of  straw — and  here  I  am!  " 

"  Up,  Bruno,"  cried  the  doctor. 

Then  he  gravely  answered  her:  "  This  night, 
Dame  Catherine,  a  great  misfortune  has  overtaken 
us.  You  must  not  attribute  it  to  Jean-Claude:  it 
is  by  another's  fault  that  we  have  lost  the  fruit  of 
all  our  sacrifices!  " 

"  Through  whose  fault?  " 

"  That  unlucky  Labarbe's,  who  did  not  guard 
the  defile  of  the  Blutfeld.  He  died  afterward  ful- 
filling his  duty;  but  that  does  not  repair  the  dis- 
aster; and  if  Piorctte  does  not  come  up  in  time  to 
aid  Hullin,  all  is  lost;  it  will  be  necessary  to  aban- 
don the  road  and  to  fight  retreating." 

"  What!  the  Blutfeld  is  taken?  " 

"  Yes,  Mistress  Catherine.  Who  the  deuce  could 
ever  have  thought  that  the  Germans  would 
enter  that?  A  defile  almost  impracticable  for  foot- 
passengers,  enclosed  by  rugged  rocks,  where  the 
goatherds  can  barely  descend  with  their  flocks. 
Well,  they  marched  that  way,  two  at  a  time;  they 
turned  Roche-Creuse,  crushed  Labarbe,  and  then 
fell  upon  Jerome,  who  defended  himself  like  a  lion 
till  nine  in  the  evening;  but,  at  last,  he  was 
obliged  to  take  refuge  in  the  pine-woods,  and  leave 


250     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

the  pass  to  the  '  kaiserlichs.'  That  is  the  whole 
story.  It  is  shocking.  Indeed,  there  must  be  some 
one  among  us  base  and  vile  enough  to  have  guided 
the  enemy,  and  would  deliver  us  over  to  him  bound 
hands  and  feet.  Oh,  the  wretch!  "  cried  Lorquin, 
furiously.  "  I  am  not  revengeful,  but  if  he  came 
into  my  clutches,  how  I  would  serve  him  1  Up, 
Bruno!  up,  then!  " 

The  partisans  were  marching  along  the  bank  like 
spectres,  without  saying  a  word. 

The  old  farm-mistress  became  silent  in  order  to 
collect  her  ideas. 

"  I  begin  to  understand,"  said  she  at  last.  "  "We 
were  attacked  to-night  on  both  sides." 

"  Exactly  so,  Catherine.  Fortunately,  ten  min- 
utes before  the  attack,  one  of  Marc  Dives's  smug- 
glers, Ziinmer,  the  old  dragooon,  had  come  full  gal- 
lop to  warn  us.  Had  it  not  been  for  that,  we  would 
have  been  lost.  He  fell  in  with  our  vanguard,  after 
having  run  the  gauntlet  of  a  detachment  of  Cos- 
sacks on  the  plateau  of  Grosmann.  The  poor  fellow 
had  received  a  terrible  sabre-thrust;  and  his  bowels 
were  protruding  over  the  saddle — was  it  not  so, 
Frantz?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  hunter,  sadly. 

"  And  what  did  he  say?  "  demanded  Catherine. 

"  He  had  only  time  to  cry,  '  To  arms!    We  are 


THE   SURPRISE  251 

hemmed  in!  Jerome  sends  me.  Labarbe  is  dead! 
The  Germans  have  passed  the  Blutfeld! '  " 

"  He  was  a  gallant  fellow,"  exclaimed  Cath- 
erine. 

"  Yes,  a  gallant  fellow,"  replied  Frantz,  with  his 
head  bent  down. 

Then  they  relapsed  into  silence,  and  for  some 
time  the  sledge  swept  through  the  winding  valley. 
~Now  and  then  they  were  obliged  to  stop,  the  snow 
was  so  deep — when  three  or  four  mountaineers 
would  take  the  horse  by  the  bridle — and  so  they 
continued  their  way. 

"  All  the  same,"  said  Catherine,  suddenly  rous- 
ing up  from  her  reverie,  "  Hullin  might  have  told 
me." 

"  But  if  he  had  mentioned  these  two  attacks," 
interrupted  the  doctor,  "  you  would  have  wanted 
to  remain." 

"  And  who  can  hinder  me  from  doing  what  I 
like?  If  it  pleased  me  to  get  out  of  the  sledge  this 
very  moment,  should  I  not  be  free?  I  had  for- 
given Jean-Claude,  but  I  am  sorry  for  it!  " 

"  Oh,  Maman  Lefevre,  supposing  he  is  killed 
while  you  are  saying  that !  "  murmured  Louise. 

"  She  is  right,  poor  child,"  thought  Catherine; 
and  then  quickly  added,  "  I  said  I  was  sorry  for  it; 
but  he  is  such  a  good  man,  that  one  cannot  be  angry 


252     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

with  him.  I  forgive  him  with  all  my  heart;  in 
his  place  I  should  have  done  the  same." 

Two  or  three  hundred  yards  farther  on  they 
entered  the  defile  of  Roches.  The  snow  had  ceased 
falling,  and  the  moon  was  shining  between  great 
white  clouds.  The  narrow  gorge,  hemmed  in  by 
steep  precipices,  expanded  in  the  distance,  its  sides 
covered  with  tall  pines.  Nothing  disturbed  the 
'deep  calm  of  the  woods;  one  could  have  imagined 
one's  self  far  away  from  all  human  agitation.  The 
silence  was  so  great  that  every  step  the  horse  made 
in  the  snow  could  be  heard,  and  even  his  sharp 
quick  breathing.  Frantz  Materne  halted  at  times 
to  gaze  upon  the  black  slopes,  and  then  hurried  on 
to  overtake  the  others. 

They  crossed  valley  after  valley;  the  sledge 
mounted  and  descended,  now  to  the  right  and  then 
to  the  left;  and  the  partisans,  with  their  bayonets 
fixed,  followed  continually. 

Toward  three  in  the  morning  they  reached  the 
meadow  of  Brim-belles,  where  at  the  present  day  an 
old  oak  can  still  be  seen  bending  over  the  valley. 
To  the  left,  in  the  midst  of  the  snow-covered 
heather,  behind  a  low  stone  wall,  stood  the  old  house 
of  the  guard  Cuny.  Three  beehives  were  placed 
on  a  bench,  a  gnarled  vine  hung  down  from  the 
roof  and  a  small  pine-bough  was  suspended  over  the 


THE    SURPRISE 


253 


door  lay  way  of  sign-board,  for  Cuny  carried  on  the 
business  of  innkeeper  in  this  solitary  place. 

At  this  spot  the  road  runs  close  under  the  meadow 
wall,  and  as  a  large  cloud  obscured  the  light  of  the 
moon,  the  doctor,  fearing  to  be  upset,  halted  be- 
neath the  oak. 

"  We  have  only  one  hour's  journey  more,  Moth- 
er Lefevre,"  said  he;  "  take  courage;  there  is  no 
hurry." 

"  Yes,"  said  Frantz;  "the  heaviest  part  of  the 
road  is  over,  and  the  horse  may  breath  a  while." 

The  small  party  collected  round  the  sledge,  and 
the  doctor  got  down.  Some  lit  their  pipes;  but  no 
one  spoke :  they  were  all  busy  thinking  of  theDonon. 
What  was  going  on  there?  Would  Jean-Claude 
be  able  to  defend  the  plateau  till  Piorette  arrived? 
So  many  dread  thoughts  and  dismal  reflections 
passed  through  the  minds  of  the  worthy  people,  that 
not  one  seemed  able  to  speak. 

They  had  been  standing  thus  about  five  min- 
utes, when  the  black  cloud  passed  slowly  away,  and 
the  pale  moonlight  lit  up  the  gorge.  Suddenly,  a 
dark  figure  on  horseback  appeared  two  hundred 
paces  from  them,  in  the  path  between  the  pine- 
trees.  By  the  light  of  the  moon  they  quickly  per- 
ceived that  it  was  the  figure  of  a  Cossack  with  his 
sheepskin  cap,  and  bearing  a  lance  under  hia  arm. 


254     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

He  was  advancing  slowly;  Frantz  was  already  tak- 
ing aim,  when  other  Cossacks  with  their  lances  ap- 
peared behind  him.  They  advanced  deliberately 
in  the  direction  of  the  sledge,  like  people  on  the 
search,  some  with  their  heads  turned  upward,  others 
peering  into  the  shrubs  from  their  saddles.  They 
numbered  more  than  thirty. 

Imagine  the  feelings  of  Louise  and  Catherine, 
•seated  in  the  middle  of  the  road.  They  looked  on 
open-mouthed.  In  another  minute  they  would  be 
surrounded  by  these  bandits.  The  mountaineers 
were  stupefied;  it  was  impossible  to  return:  they 
were  hemmed  in  on  one  side  by  the  meadow  wall, 
on  the  other  by  the  mountain-side.  The  old  farm- 
wife  seized  Louise  by  the  hand,  and  said,  in  a  stifled 
voice,  "  Let  us  escape  to  the  woods!  " 

She  sprang  from  the  sledge,  leaving  her  shoe  in 
the  straw. 

Suddenly  one  of  the  Cossacks  uttered  a  guttural 
cry,  which  was  repeated  along  the  whole  line. 

"  We  are  discovered!  "  exclaimed  the  doctor,  as 
he  drew  his  sword. 

The  words  had  scarcely  escaped  his  lips  when 
twelve  musket-shots  lit  up  the  path  from  end  to  end; 
a  regular  savage  whoop  answered  the  report  of  the 
muskets.  The  Cossacks  made  off  from  the  path  to 
the  meadow  in  front,  gave  their  horses  the  reins, 


THE   SURPRISE  255 

bent  down  in  their  saddles,  and  flew  toward  the 
guard-house  like  deer. 

"Ha!  they  are  off  like  the  devil!"  said  fbe 
doctor. 

But  the  worthy  man  was  too  hasty.  Suddenly, 
when  they  had  gone  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
along  the  valley,  the  Cossacks  again  wheeled  round 
and  massed  themselves  firmly  together  ;  then,  with 
their  lances  in  rest,  and  bending  over  their  horses' 
heads,  they  rushed  straight  at  the  partisans,  shout- 
ing in  hoarse  voices — "  Hourah  !  hourah  !  " 

It  was  a  terrible  moment. 

Frantz  and  the  others  sprang  toward  the  wall,  to 
protect  the  sledge. 

In  another  second,  the  clashing  of  lances  and 
screams  of  rage  could  alone  be  heard,  mingled  with 
imprecations.  Under  the  shadow  of  the  old  oak, 
through  the  straggling  moonbeams,  could  be  seen 
the  horses  prancing  with  tossing  manes,  as  they  en- 
deavored to  clear  the  meadow  wall  ;  while  the  bar- 
barian Cossacks,  with  gleaming  eyes  and  uplifted 
arms,  struck  furiously  with  their  lances,  advancing, 
retreating,  and  uttering  piercing  yells. 

Louise,  deathly  pale,  and  Catherine,  with  her 
gray  dishevelled  hair,  stood  up  in  the  straw. 

Doctor  Lorquin,  in  front  of  them,  parried  the 
strokes  with  his  sabre,  and  all  the  time  kept  shout- 


256     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

ing  to  them — "  Lie  down  !  lie  down  !  "  But  they 
did  not  hear  him. 

Louise,  in  the  midst  of  the  tumult  and  shouting, 
thought  only  of  sheltering  Catherine  ;  and  the  old 
dame,  in  the  midst  of  her  terror,  had  recognized  Ye- 
gof,  on  a  tall,  gaunt  horse — Yegof,  with  his  tin 
crown,  bristling  beard,  long  lance,  and  dog-skin  float- 
ing from  his  shoulders.  She  saw  him  as  distinctly 
as  though  it  were  broad  daylight.  He  stood  about 
ten  feet  distant,  with  sparkling  eyes,  brandishing  his 
blue  lance  in  the  darkness,  and  striving  to  reach  her. 
What  could  she  do?  Submit  to  her  fate  !  Thus 
do  the  most  resolute  characters  succumb  to  inevita- 
ble destiny.  The  old  dame  thought  her  fate  was 
sealed.  She  saw  all  these  people  tearing  like 
wolves,  thrusting  and  parrying  in  the  moonlight. 
She  saw  some  fall  ;  and  horses  running,  riderless 
through  the  fields.  She  saw  the  topmost  window  of 
the  guard-house  thrown  open  ;  and  old  Cuny,  in  his 
shirt-sleeves,  shoulder  his  gun,  though  not  daring  to 
fire  into  the  crowd.  All  passed  before  her  eyes  with 
wonderful  clearness.  "  The  madman  has  re- 
turned," she  said  to  herself.  "  Do  what  they  will, 
he  will  hang  my  head  to  the  side  of  his  saddle.  It 
will  end  as  I  saw  in  my  dream." 

And,  indeed,  everything  seemed  to  justify  her 
fears  :  the  mountaineers,  inferior  in  numbers,  were 


THE   SURPRISE 


257 


giving  way.  The  Cossacks  had  cleared  the  wall, 
and  were  already  on  the  footpath.  A  well-aimed 
thrust  passed  through  the  old  dame's  back-hair,  and 
she  felt  the  cold  iron  against  her  neck. 

"  Oh,  the  murderers  !  "  she  screamed,  falling 
back  and  clutching  fast  at  the  reins. 

Doctor  Lorquin  himself  had  been  hurled  against 
the  sledge.  Frantz  and  the  others,  surrounded  by 
twenty  Cossacks,  could  afford  them  no  help.  Lou- 
ise felt  a  hand  on  her  shoulder  :  it  was  the  hand  of 
the  madman,  seated  on  his  great  horse. 

At  this  fearful  moment,  the  poor  child,  mad  with 
terror,  uttered  a  scream  of  distress  ;  then  she  saw 
something  gleaming  in  the  darkness  :  it  was  Lor- 
quin's  pistols.  Quick  as  lightning,  tearing  them 
from  the  doctor's  belt,  she  fired  them  off  both  at 
once,  singeing  Yegof's  beard,  and  blowing  out  the 
brains  of  a  Cossack  who  was  bending  toward  her 
with  naming  eyes.  She  then  seized  Catherine's 
whip,  and  pale  as  death,  lashed  the  horse,  who 
bounded  away.  The  sledge  flew  through  the  bush- 
es, swaying  from  right  to  left.  Suddenly  there  was 
a  shock.  Catherine,  Louise,  the  straw,  and  all  rolled 
in  the  snow  on  the  slopes  of  the  ravine.  The  horse 
stopped  short  on  its  haunches,  its  mouth  full  of 
bloody  foam.  It  had  struck  against  an  oak-tree. 

Rapid  as  was  the  fall,  Louise  had  seen  figures 

17 


258     THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE    IN    1814 

passing  like  the  wind  behind  the  underwood.  She 
had  heard  a  powerful  voice,  that  of  Dives,  crying 
out,  "  Forward  !  Cut  them  down  !  " 

It  was  like  a  vision — one  of  those  confused  ap- 
paritions which  pass  before  the  eyes  in  moments  of 
supreme  danger  ;  but,  on  rising,  the  young  girl  had 
no  longer  any  doubts.  Fighting  was  going  on  only 
a  few  paces  distant  behind  the  cover  of  some  trees, 
and  the  voice  of  Marc  was  heard  shouting,  "  Go  it, 
my  old  fellows  !  Give  them  no  quarter  !  " 

Then  she  saw  a  dozen  Cossacks  clambering  up  the 
hill  in  front,  like  hares  among  the  heather  ;  below 
Yegof  was  crossing  the  valley  in  the  moonlight  with 
the  speed  of  a  terrified  bird  on  the  wing.  Several 
shots  were  sent  after  him,  but  the  madman  remained 
unscathed,  and,  standing  upright  in  his  stirrups, 
with  his  horse  at  full  gallop,  he  turned,  waving  his 
lance  with  bravado,  and  shouting  "  Ilourah  !  " 
Two  more  shots  whizzed  by  from  the  guard-house  ; 
a  bit  of  rag  fell  from  his  loins,  but  the  madman  con- 
tinued his  course,  crying  "  Hourah  !  "  in  a  hoarse 
tone,  and  toiled  up  the  path  which  his  companions 
had  taken  before  him. 

All  this  passed  before  Louise  like  a  dream. 

Then,  turning  round,  she  saw  Catherine  by  her 
side,  stupefied  and  absorbed  like  herself.  They 
gazed  at  each  other  for  a  moment,  and  then  em- 


THE   SURPRISE  259 

braced  with  an  inexpressible  feeling  of  happi- 
ness. 

"  We  are  saved  !  "  murmured  Catherine  ;  and 
they  both  wept.  "  Thou  hast  behaved  bravely. 
Jean-Claude,  Gaspard,  and  I  have  good  reason  to  be 
proud  of  thee  !  " 

Louise  was  deeply  agitated  and  trembled  all  over. 
The  danger  being  passed,  her  gentle  nature  again  re- 
sumed its  sway,  and  she  could  not  understand 
whence  came  her  courage  of  a  few  minutes  before. 

They  were  recovering  from  their  fright  and  about 
to  get  into  the  sledge,  when  they  saw  five  or  six 
partisans  with  the  doctor  coming  toward  them. 

"  Ah  !  you  may  cry  as  much  as  you  like,  Lou- 
ise," said  Lorquin  ;  "  but,  for  all  that,  you  are  a 
regular  dragoon,  a  real  little  warrior.  Though  you 
now  look  so  gentle,  we  have  all  seen  you  at  work. 
But  where  are  my  pistols?  " 

At  that  moment  the  shrubs  were  pushed  aside, 
and  Marc  Dives,  sword  in  hand,  appeared. 

"  Ah,  Mistress  Catherine,  these  are  rough  ad- 
ventures for  you.  Zounds  !  what  luck  that  I  hap- 
pened to  come  up.  Those  villains  were  spoiling 
you  right  and  left." 

"  Yes,"  replied  she,  pushing  her  hair  under  her 
cap  again  ;  "  it  was  very  fortunate." 

"  Yery  fortunate  !  I  should  think  so.     It  is  only. 


26o     THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE    IN    1814 

ten  minutes  since  I  arrived  with  my  wagon  at 
Cuny's.  '  Do  not  go  to  the  Donon,'  said  he;  '  the 
sky  has  been  red  for  an  hour  in  that  direction  ; 
there  is  certainly  fighting  going  on  up  there.'  '  You 
think  so? '  '  Faith  !  yes.'  '  Then  Joson  must  go 
out  and  reconnoitre  a  little  and  we  others  will  drink 
a  glass  while  waiting.'  '  Good  ! '  Hardly  had  Jo- 
son  left,  when  I  heard  shouts  as  though  five  hundred 
devils  were  let  loose.  *  What  is  it,  Cuny? '  '  I 
don't  know.'  We  pushed  open  the  door,  and  saw 
the  fray.  Ha!"  exclaimed  the  big  smuggler,  "we 
did  not  wait  long.  I  jumped  on  my  brave  horse 
Pox,  and  dashed  forward.  What  luck !  " 

"Ah!  "  said  Catherine,  "  if  we  were  only  sure 
that  our  affairs  go  as  well  on  the  Donon,  we  might 
then  rejoice." 

.  "  Yes,  yes  !  Frantz  told  me  about  that : — it  is 
the  devil — there  must  always  be  something  wrong," 
replied  Marc.  "  But — but  why  stay  here  with  our 
feet  in  the  snow?  Let  us  hope  that  Piorette  will 
not  allow  his  comrades  to  be  crushed,  and  let  us  go 
and  empty  our  glasses,  which  we  left  half  full." 

Four  other  smugglers  then  arrived,  saying  that 
that  rascally  Yegof  would  probably  come  back,  with 
some  more  brigands  like  himself. 

"  Very  likely,"  replied  Dives.  "  We  will  re- 
tuxn  ^o  the  Falkens.tei%  since,  it  is  Jeaft-Claude's  or- 


THE   SURPRISE  261 

ders  ;  but  we  can't  bring  our  wagon  with  us  :  it 
would  prevent  our  taking  the  short  cuts  ;  and  in  an 
hour  all  these  bandits  would  be  down  upon  us.  Let 
us  go  first  to  Cuny's.  Catherine  and  Louise  will  not 
be  sorry  to  drink  a  little  wine  ;  and  the  others  too. 
It  will  put  their  hearts  in  the  right  place  again.  Upt 
Bruno  !  " 

He  led  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  Two  wounded 
men  had  been  laid  in  the  sledge  ;  two  others  having 
been  killed,  as  well  as  seven  or  eight  Cossacks 
stretched  with  their  boots  wide  apart  in  the  snow, 
were  abandoned,  and  they  went  on  toward  the  for- 
ester's house. 

Frantz  was  consoling  himself  for  not  having  been 
on  the  Donon  :  he  had  finished  two  Cossacks,  and 
the  sight  of  the  inn  made  him  feel  in  a  good  humor. 
Before  the  door  stood  the  small  wagon  full  of  car- 
tridges. Cuny  came  out,  saying  :  "  A  hearty  wel- 
come, Mistress  Lefevre.  What  a  night  for  women! 
Be  seated  !  What  is  going  on  up  there  ?  " 

While  they  were  hastily  drinking  some  wine,  ev- 
erything had  to  be  explained  over  again.  The 
worthy  old  man  in  a  blouse  and  green  breeches,  with, 
his  wrinkled  face,  bald  head,  and  wide-open  eyes, 
listened  with  clasped  hands,  exclaiming:  "  Good 
God  !  Good  God  !  in  what  times  are  we  living? 
One  can  no  longer  follow  the  high-roads  without 


262     THE   INVASION    OF    FRANCE   IN    1814 

risk  of  being  attacked.  It  is  worse  than  the  old 
Swedish  tales."  And  he  shook  his  head. 

"  Come,"  said  Dives,  "  time  flies.  We  must 
continue  our  way." 

Everybody  being  ready,  the  smugglers  led  the 
wagon,  which  contained  some  thousands  of  car- 
tridges and  two  small  kegs  of  brandy,  about  three 
hundred  yards  off,  to  the  middle  of  the  valley,  and 
then  unharnessed  the  horses. 

"  Go  forward  !  "  shouted  Marc  ;  "  we  will  re- 
join you  in  a  few  minutes." 

"  But  what  art  thou  going  to  do  with  the  cart?" 
said  Frantz.  "  Since  we  have  no  time  to  take  it  to 
the  Falkenstein,  it  had  better  be  left  under  Cuny's 
shed  than  in  the  road." 

"  Yes,  to  get  the  poor  old  man  hanged,  when  the 
Cossacks  arrive,  for  they  will  be  here  in  less  than  an 
hour.  Do  not  trouble  thyself  ;  I  have  my  own 
idea." 

Frantz  rejoined  the  sledge,  which  went  on  its 
way.  In  a  short  time  they  passed  by  the  saw-works 
of  the  Marquis  and  turned  sharp  to  the  right,  to 
reach  the  farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes,  whose  tall  chim- 
neys could  be  perceived  three-quarters  of  a  league 
distant  on  the  plateau.  They  were  on  the  hill-side 
when  Marc  Dives  and  his  men  overtook  them,  shout- 
ing: 


THE   SURPRISE  263 

"  Halt  !     Stop  a  bit  !     Look  down  there  !  " 

And,  looking  down  into  the  gorge,  they  saw  the 
Cossacks  capering  round  the  wagon — about  three 
hundred  of  them. 

"  They  are  coming  !  Let  us  fly  !  "  cried  Lou- 
ise. 

"  Wait  a  bit,"  said  the  smuggler.  "  We  have 
nothing  to  fear." 

He  was  still  speaking,  when  an  immense  sheet 
of  flame  sped  out  from  one  mountain  to  the  other, 
illuminating  the  woods,  rocks,  and  the  little  house 
of  the  forester  fifteen  hundred  yards  below  ;  then 
there  was  a  report  so  terrible  that  the  earth  seemed 
to  tremble. 

While  those  near  him  gazed  in  bewilderment  and 
dumb  terror  at  each  other,  Marc's  bursts  of  laugh- 
ter reached  their  ears,  in  spite  of  the  din. 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  "  shouted  he,  "  I  was  sure  the 
rogues  would  stop  round  the  wagon,  to  drink  up  my 
brandy.  I  knew  the  match  would  have  just  time 
to  reach  the  powder  !  " 

"  Do  you  think  they  will  pursue  us?  " 

"  Their  arms  and  legs  are  now  hanging  from  the 
branches  of  the  pine-trees  !  Come  along  !  And 
may  heaven  grant  the  same  fate  to  all  those  who 
have  now  crossed  the  Rhine  !  " 

The  whole  escort,  the  partisans,  the  doctor,  all 


264     THE   INVASION    OF   RRANCE   IN    1814 

had  grown  silent  :  so  many  terrible  emotions  had 
filled  them  with  endless  thoughts  such  as  do  not  fall 
within  the  experience  of  every-day  life.  They  said 
to  themselves  :  "  What  are  men  that  they  destroy, 
harass,  and  ruin  each  other  in  this  manner?  Why 
do  they  hate  each  other  so?  And  what  spirit  of  evil 
is  it  that  thus  excites  them  ? " 

But  Dives  and  his  men  were  not  at  all  troubled 
by  these  events  :  they  galloped  along,  laughing  and 
boasting. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  the  big  smuggler,  "  I  never 
saw  such  a  farce  before.  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  if  I  lived  a 
thousand  years,  I  should  laugh  at  it  still."  Then 
he  became  more  serious,  and  exclaimed  :  "  All  the 
same,  Yegof  is  the  cause  of  this.  One  must  be 
blind  not  to  see  that  it  was  he  who  led  the  Germans 
to  the  Blutfeld.  I  shall  be  sorry  if  he  has  been 
struck  down  by  a  piece  of  my  wagon  ;  I  have  some- 
thing better  in  store  for  him  than  that.  All  that 
I  wish  is  that  he  may  keep  in  good  health  till  wo 
meet  somewhere  in  a  lonely  corner  of  the  wood.  It 
is  no  matter  whether  it  be  in  one  year,  ten  years, 
twenty  years,  provided  only  that  we  meet.  The 
longer  it  is  deferred,  the  more  savage  my  determina- 
tion becomes  :  the  daintiest  morsels  are  eaten  cold, 
like  a  boar's  head  in  white  wine." 
-  He  said  this  with  an  air  of  good-humor,  but  those 


THE   SURPRISE  265 

who  knew  him  perceived  beneath  it  a  serious  dan- 
ger for  Yegof . 

Half  an  hour  later,  they  all  reached  the  pla- 
teau on  which  the  farm  of  Bois-de-Chenes  was  sit- 
uated. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

"  ALL   IS    LOST  " 

JEROME  of  St.  Quirin  had  managed  to  make  good 
his  retreat  to  the  farm,  and  since  midnight  he  had 
occupied  the  plateau. 

"  Who  goes  there?  "  cried  his  sentinels  as  the  es- 
cort approached. 

"  It  is  we,  from  the  village  of  Charmes,"  shouted 
Marc,  in  his  stentorian  voice. 

The  sentinels  approached  to  examine  them,  and 
then  they  passed  on  their  way. 

The  farm  was  silent  ;  a  sentry,  his  musket  over 
his  arm,  was  pacing  before  the  granary,  where  about 
thirty  partisans  were  asleep  upon  the  straw.  At  the 
sight  of  these  great  dark  roofs,  the  stables  and  out- 
houses belonging  to  the  old  building  where  she  had 
spent  her  youth,  where  her  father  and  grandfather 
had  led  their  tranquil  laborious  lives  in  peace,  and 
which  she  was  now  about  to  abandon,  perhaps  for- 
ever, Catherine  felt  a  terrible  wrenching  at  her 
heart ;  but  no  word  escaped  her.  Springing  from 
266 


"ALL   IS   LOST"  267 

the  sledge,  as  in  other  days  when  she  returned  from 
marketing,  she  said  :  "  Come,  Louise,  here  we  are 
at  home,  thank  God." 

Old  Duchene  pushed  open  the  door,  exclaiming: 
"  Is  that  you,  Madame  Lefevre?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  I.     Any  news  from  Jean-Claude  ?  " 

"No,  Madame." 

They  entered  the  large  kitchen.  Some  cinders 
were  still  smouldering  on  the  hearth,  and  in  the 
dark,  under  the  broad  chimney,  was  sitting  Jerome 
of  St.  Quirin,  with  his  big  horsehair  hood,  his 
great  stick  between  his  knees,  and  his  carbine  lean- 
ing against  the  wall. 

"  Good-day,  Jerome,"  said  the  old  farm-wife. 

"  Good-day,  Catherine,"  replied  the  grave  chief 
of  the  Grosmann.  "  Have  you  come  from  the 
Donon? " 

"  Yes  :  things  are  going  badly,  my  poor  Jerome. 
The  '  kaiserlichs  '  were  attacking  the  farm  when 
we  left  the  plateau.  Nothing  but  white  uniforms 
was  to  be  seen  on  every  side.  They  were  already 
beginning  to  cross  the  breastworks." 

"  Then  you  think  Hullin  will  be  compelled  to 
abandon  the  road?  " 

"  Possibly,  if  Piorette  does  not  come  to  his  assist- 
ance." 

The  partisans  had  approached  near  the  fire.  Marc 


268     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Dives  bent  over  the  cinders  to  light  his  pipe  ;  on 
rising,  he  exclaimed  :  "  I  ask  thee  one  thing  only, 
Jerome  ;  I  know  beforehand  that  they  fought  well 
under  thy  command " 

"  We  have  done  our  duty,"  replied  the  shoe- 
maker. "  There  are  sixty  men  stretched  on  the 
slopes  of  the  Grosmann  who  will  tell  you  so  at  the 
last  day." 

"  Yes  ;  but  who,  then,  guided  the  Germans  ? 
They  could  not  have  discovered  the  pass  of  the  Blut- 
feld  by  themselves." 

"  Yegof  the  madman — Yegof,"  said  Jerome, 
whose  gray  eyes,  encircled  by  deep  wrinkles  and 
thick  white  eyebrows,  seemed  to  sparkle  in  the  dark- 
ness. 

"  Ah  !  art  thou  certain  of  it?  " 

"  Labarbe's  men  saw  him  climbing  up  ;  he  led 
the  others." 

The  partisans  looked  at  each  other  with  indigna- 
tion. 

At  this  moment  Doctor  'Lorquin,  who  had  re- 
mained outside  to  unharness  the  horse,  opened  the 
door,  shouting  :  "  The  battle  is  lost  !  Here  are  our 
men  from  the  Donon.  I  have  just  heard  Lagar- 
mitte's  horn." 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  emotion  of  the  recipients 
of  these  tidings.  Each  thought  of  the  relations  and 


"ALL   IS    LOST"  269 

friends  that  he  might  never  see  again  ;  and  from 
the  kitchen  and  the  granary  everybody  at  once 
rushed  on  to  the  "  plateau."  At  the  same  time 
Robin  and  Dubourg,  posted  as  sentinels  above  Bois- 
de-Chenes,  cried  out,  "  Who  goes  there?  " 

"  France  !  "  replied  a  voice. 

Notwithstanding  the  distance,  Louise,  fancying 
she  could  recognize  her  father's  voice,  was  seized 
with  such  a  fit  of  trembling  that  Catherine  was  com- 
pelled to  support  her. 

Just  then  the  noise  of  many  footsteps  resounded 
over  the  hardened  snow,  and  Louise,  unable  to  con- 
tain herself  any  longer,  exclaimed,  "  Papa  Jean- 
Claude  !  " 

"  I  am  coming,"  replied  Hullin,  "  I  am  com- 
ing." 

"  My  father?  "  exclaimed  Frantz  Materne,  rush- 
ing to  meet  Jean-Claude. 

"  He  is  with  us,  Frantz." 

"  And  Kasper? " 

"  He  has  received  a  slight  scratch,  but  it  is  noth- 
ing. Thou  wilt  see  them  both  again." 

Catherine  threw  herself  into  Jean-Claude's 
arms. 

"  Oh,  Jean-Claude,  what  joy  to  behold  you  once 
more  !  " 
.  .  "  Yes,"  replied  the  worthy  man,  in  a  suppressed 


270     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

voice,  "  there  are  many  who  will  never  see  their 
friends  again." 

"  Frants,"  said  old  Materne,  "  here,  this  way!  " 

And  one  could  only  see,  on  all  sides,  people  seek- 
ing each  other  in  the  dim  light,  squeezing  hands, 
and  embracing.  Some  called  for,  "  Niclau  ! 
Sapheri  !  "  but  many  did  not  answer  to  their 
names. 

Then  the  voices  became  hoarse,  as  though  stifled, 
and  relapsed  into  silence.  The  joy  of  some,  and 
the  consternation  of  others,  produced  a  terrible  sen- 
sation. Louise  was  in  Hullin's  arms,  sobbing  bit- 
terly. 

"  Ah,  Jean-Claude,"  said  Mother  Lefevre,  "  you 
will  hear  strange  things  about  that  child.  I  will 
say  no  more  now,  but  we  have  been  attacked " 

"  Yes,  we  will  talk  of  that  later  j  our  time  is 
short,"  said  Hullin.  "  The  road  to  the  Donon  is 
lost,  the  Cossacks  may  be  here  at  daylight,  and  we 
have  many  things  to  arrange." 

He  turned  the  corner  and  entered  the  farm,  all 
following  him.  Duchene  had  just  thrown  a  fagot 
on  the  fire.  All  these  people,  with  faces  blackened 
by  powder,  still  animated  by  the  combat,  their 
clothes  torn  by  bayonet-thrusts,  some  blood-stained, 
advancing  from  the  darkness  into  the  light,  present- 
ed a  strange  spectacle.  Kasper,  whose  forehead 


MANY   OF   THEM   WILL   NEVER  AGAIN   SEE   THEIR  JRIENDS 


"ALL   IS   LOST"  271 

was  bandaged  with  his  handkerchief,  had  received 
a  sabre-cut  ;  his  bayonet,  buff  facings,  and  high 
blue  gaiters,  were  stained  with  blood.  Old  Ma- 
terne,  thanks  to  his  imperturbable  presence  of  mind, 
returned  safe  and  sound  from  the  fray.  The  re- 
mains of  Jerome's  and  Hullin's  troops  were  thus 
once  more  united.  They  wore  the  same  wild  phys- 
iognomies, animated  by  the  same  energy  and  desire 
for  vengeance.  But  Hullin's  men,  harassed  by 
fatigue,  sat  down  right  and  left,  on  the  fagots,  on 
the  stone  sink,  on  the  low  pavement  of  the  hearth 
— their  heads  in  their  hands  and  elbows  on  their 
knees  ;  while  Jerome's,  who  could  not  be  convinced 
of  the  disappearance  of  Hans,  Joson,  and  Daniel, 
looked  about  everywhere,  exchanging  questions, 
broken  by  long  pauses.  Materne's  two  sons  held 
each  other  by  the  arm,  as  though  afraid  of  losing 
one  another,  and  their  father,  behind  them,  leaning 
against  the  wall,  with  his  elbow  on  his  gun,  watched 
them  with  an  expression  of  satisfaction. 

"  There  they  are,  I  see  them,"  he  seemed  to  say  : 
"  two  famous  fellows  !  They  have  saved  their 
skins,  both  of  them."  If  any  one  came  to  ask  him 
about  Pierre,  Jacques,  or  Nicolas,  his  son  or  his 
brother,  he  would  reply  hap-hazard — "  Yes,  yes, 
there  are  several  lying  down  there  on  their  backs. 
What  can  you  ,expect?  It  is  war  !  Your  Nicolas 


272     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

has  done  his  duty.  You  must  console  yourself." 
Meanwhile  he  thought — "  Mine  are  out  of  the 
scrimmage  ;  that  is  the  chief  thing." 

Catherine  and  Louise  were  busy  preparing  sup- 
per. Duchene  came  up  from  the  cellar  with  a  bar- 
rel of  wine  on  his  shoulder.  He  set  it  down,  and 
knocked  out  the  bung  ;  and  each  partisan  present- 
ed his  flask  or  cup  to  be  filled  with  the  purple  liquid 
which  glittered  in  ths  firelight. 

"  Eat  and  drink,"  said  the  old  dame  to  them  : 
"  all  is  not  lost  yet  ;  you  will  have  need  of  your 
strength  again.  Here,  Frantz,  unhook  those  hams 
for  me.  Here  is  bread  and  knives.  Sit  down,  my 
children." 

Frantz  reached  down  the  hams  in  the  chimney 
with  his  bayonet. 

The  benches  were  brought  forward  ;  they  sat 
down,  and  notwithstanding  their  sorrows,  they  eat 
with  that  vigorous  appetite  which  neither  present 
griefs  nor  thoughts  for  the  future  can  make  a  moun- 
taineer forget.  But  it  did  not  prevent  a  bitter  sad- 
ness from  filling  the  hearts  of  these  brave  men  ;  and 
first  one  and  then  another  would  stop  suddenly,  let- 
ting fall  his  fork,  and  leave  the  table,  saying — "  I 
have  had  enough  !  " 

While  the  partisans  were  thus  engaged  in  re- 
cruiting their  strength,  the  chiefs  were  assembled 


"ALL    IS    LOST1 


273 


in  the  next  room  to  make  some  last  resolutions  for 
the  defence.  They  sat  round  the  table3  on  which 
was  placed  a  tin  lamp  :  Doctor  Lorquin,  with  his 
dog  Pluto,  looking  inquiringly  into  his  master's 
face  ;  Jerome,  in  the  corner  of  the  window  to  the 
right  ;  Hullin  to  the  left,  very  pale  ;  Marc  Dives, 
his  elbow  on  the  table  and  cheek  in  his  hand,  and 
his  back  turned  to  the  door,  showed  only  his  brown 
profile  and  the  tip  of  his  long  mustache.  Materne 
alone  remained  standing,  leaning,  as  was  his  cus- 
tom, against  the  wall  behind  Lorquin's  chair,  with 
his  carbine  at  his  feet.  The  noise  of  the  men  in  the 
kitchen  could  be  distinctly  heard. 

When  Catherine,  summoned  by  Jean-Claude, 
entered  the  room,  she  heard  a  sort  of  groan  which 
made  her  shudder.  It  was  Hullin  who  was  speak- 
ing. 

"  All  these  brave  lads — all  these  fathers  of  fam- 
ilies, who  fell  one  after  the  other,"  he  cried,  in  a 
heartrending  voice,  "  do  you  think  I  did  not  feel 
it?  Do  you  think  that  I  would  not  rather  a  thou- 
sand times  have  been  killed  myself?  You  do  not 
know  what  I  have  suffered  this  night  !  To  lose 
one's  life  is  nothing  ;  but  to  bear  alone  the  weight 
of  such  a  responsibility " 

He  paused  :  his  trembling  lips,  the  tear  whichi 
trickled  slowly  down  his  cheek,  his  attitude,  all 
is 


274     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

showed  the  scruples  of  the  worthy  man,  in  face  of 
one  of  those  situations  where  conscience  itself  hesi- 
tates and  seeks  further  support.  Catherine  went 
and  sat  down  quietly  in  the  big  arm-chair.  A  few 
seconds  later  Hullin  continued  in  a  calmer  tone  : — 
"  Between  eleven  o'clock  and  midnight,  Zinimer 
came  up,  shouting,  '  We  are  turned  !  The  Ger- 
mans are  coming  down  the  Grosmann  !  Labarbe 
is  crushed  !  Jerome  can  hold  out  no  longer  ! ' 
What  was  to  be  done  !  Could  I  beat  a  retreat? 
Could  I  abandon  a  position -which  had  cost  us  so 
much  blood — the  road  to  the  Donon,  the  road  to 
Paris?  If  I  had  done  so,  should  I  not  have  been  a 
coward?  But  I  had  only  three  hundred  men 
against  four  thousand  at  Grandfontaine,  and  I  know 
not  how  many  descending  from  the  mountain  ! 
Well,  I  decided  at  any  cost  to  hold  it  ;  it  was  our 
duty.  I  said  to  myself,  '  Life  is  nothing  without 
honor  !  We  will  all  die  ;  but  they  shall  not  say 
that  we  have  yielded  the  high-road  to  France.  No, 
no;  they  shall  not  say  that.'  " 

At  this  moment  Hullin's  voice  faltered,  and  his 
eyes  filled  with  tears,  as  he  continued — "  We  held 
out  ;  my  brave  children  held  out  till  two  o'clock. 
I  saw  them  fall  :  they  fell  shouting,  '  Vive  la 
France  ! '  I  had  warned  Piorette  in  the  beginning 
of  the  action.  He  came  up  quickly,  with  fifty  stout 


"ALL   IS   LOST"  275 

men.  It  was  too  late.  The  enemy  poured  in  on 
every  side  ;  they  held  three  parts  of  the  plain,  and 
forced  us  back  among  the  pine-forests  on  the  Blanru 
side  ;  their  fire  burst  upon  us.  All  I  could  do  was 
to  assemble  my  wounded,  those  who  could  still  drag 
along,  and  put  them  under  Piorette's  escort  ;  a  hun- 
dred of  my  men  joined  him.  For  myself,  I  only 
kept  fifty  to  occupy  the  Falkenstein.  We  had  to 
pass  right  through  the  Germans,  who  wanted  to  cut 
off  our  retreat.  Happily,  the  night  was  dark;  had 
it  not  been  for  that,  not  one  of  us  would  have  es- 
caped. That  is  how  we  are  situated.  All  is  lost  ! 
The  Falkenstein  alone  remains  ours,  and  we  are  re- 
duced to  three  hundred  men.  Now  the  question  is, 
shall  we  go  on  to  the  end?  I  have  already  told  you 
that  I  dread  to  bear  alone  such  a  responsibility.  So 
long  as  it  concerned  defending  the  road  to  the  Do- 
non,  there  was  no  doubt  about  it:  every  man  be- 
longs to  his  country.  But  this  road  is  lost.  "We 
should  need  ten  thousand  men  to  retake  it;  and  at 
this  very  moment  the  enemy  is  entering  Lorraine. 
Come,  what  is  to  be  done?  " 

"  "We  must  go  on  to  the  end,"  said  Jerome. 

"  Yes,  yes  !  "  cried  the  others. 

"  Is  that  your  opinion,  Catherine?  " 

"  Certainly,"  exclaimed  the  old  dame,  whoso 
features  expressed  an  inflexible  tenacity. 


276     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

Then  Hullin,  in  a  firmer  tone,  explained  his  plan : 
— "  The  Falkenstein  is  our  point  of  retreat.  It  is 
our  arsenal  ;  it  is  there  that  we  have  our  ammuni- 
tion ;  the  enemy  knows  it  ;  he  will  attempt  an  at- 
tack on  that  side,  therefore  all  of  us  here  present 
must  make  an  effort  to  defend  it,  so  that  the  whole 
country  may  see  us  and  say,  '  Catherine  Lef  evre, 
Jerome,  Materne  and  his  boys,  Hullin,  and  Doctor 
Lorquin  are  there.  They  will  not  lay  down  their 
arms.'  This  idea  will  give  fresh  courage  to  all  man- 
ly hearts.  Besides,  Piorette  will  remain  in  the 
woods  ;  his  troops  will  grow  more  numerous  day  by 
day  :  the  country  will  be  filled  with  Cossacks  and 
marauders  of  every  description  ;  when  the  enemy's 
army  shall  have  entered  Lorraine  I  will  signal  to 
Piorette;  he  will  throw  himself  between  the  Do- 
non  and  the  highway,  so  that  all  the  laggers  behind 
scattered  over  the  mountains  will  be  caught  as  in  a 
trap.  We  shall  also  be  able  to  profit  by  favorable 
chances  to  carry  off  the  convoys  of  the  Germans,  to 
harass  their  reserves,  and,  if  fortune  aids  us,  as  we 
must  hope  it  will,  and  all  these  '  kaiserlichs  '  are 
beaten  in  Lorraine  by  our  army,  then  we  can  cut  off 
their  retreat." 

Everybody  got  up,  and  Hullin  going  into  the 
kitchen,  pronounced  this  simple  address  to  the 
mountaineers  : — "  My  friends,  we  have  decided 


"ALL   IS   LOST"  277 

that  we  must  push  our  resistance  to  the  end.  Nev- 
ertheless, every  one  is  free  to  do  as  he  likes  ;  to  lay 
down  his  arms  and  return  to  his  village  ;  but  let 
those  who  wish  to  revenge  themselves  join  us  ;  they 
\vill  share  our  last  morsel  of  bread  and  our  last  car- 
tridge." 

Colon,  the  old  wood-floater,  arose  and  said,  "  Hul- 
lin,  we  are  all  with  thee  ;  we  began  to  fight  to- 
gether, and  so  will  we  finish."  , 

"  Yes,  yes  !  "  they  all  shouted. 

"Have  you  all  decided?  Well,  listen.  Je- 
rome's brother  will  take  the  command." 

"  My  brother  is  dead,"  interrupted  Jerome;  "  he 
lies  on  the  slopes  of  the  Grosmann." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause  ;  then  in  a  loud 
voice  Hullin  continued  :  "  Colon,  thou  wilt  take 
the  command  of  all  those  that  remain,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  men  who  formed  Catherine  Lef evre's 
escort,  and  whom  I  shall  keep  with  me.  Thou  wilt 
go  and  rejoin  Piorette  in  the  valley  of  Blanru,  pass- 
ing by  the  *  Two  Rivers.'  " 

"  And  the  ammunition?  "  said  Marc  Dives. 

"  I  have  brought  up  my  wagon-load,"  said  Je- 
rome; "  Colon  can  use  it." 

"  Let  the  dray  be  loaded,"  said  Catherine  ;  "  the 
Cossacks  are  coming,  and  will  pillage  everything. 
Our  men  must  not  leave  empty-handed  ;  let  them 


278     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

take  away  the  cows,  oxen,  and  calves — everything: 
it  will  be  so  much  gained  on  the  enemy." 

Five  minutes  later  the  farm  was  being  ransacked; 
the  dray  was  loaded  with  hams,  smoked  meats,  and 
bread  ;  the  cattle  were  led  out  of  the  stables,  the 
horses  harnessed  to  the  great  wagon,  and  soon  the 
convoy  began  its  march,  Robin  at  the  head,  blowing 
on  his  horn,  with  the  partisans  behind  pushing  at 
the  wheels.  When  it  had  disappeared  in  the  road, 
and  silence  had  succeeded  to  all  the  noise,  Catherine 
turning  round,  beheld  Hullin  behind  her. 

"  Well,  Catherine,"  said  he,  "  all  is  finished  ! 
We  are  now  going  to  make  our  way  up  there." 

Frantz,  Kasper,  and  those  of  the  escort,  with 
Marc  Dives  and  Materne,  all  armed,  were  waiting 
in  the  kitchen. 

"  Duchene,"  said  the  good  woman,  "  go  down 
to  the  village  ;  you  must  not  be  ill-treated  by  the 
enemy  on  my  account." 

The  old  servant  shook  his  white  head,  and,  with 
his  eyes  full  of  tears,  replied  :— "  I  may  as  well  die 
here,  Madame  Lefevre.  It  is  nearly  fifty  years 
since  I  came  to  the  farm.  Do  not  make  me  leave  ; 
it  would  be  the  death  of  me." 

"  Do  as  you  like,  my  poor  Duchene,"  replied 
Catherine,  softly;  "  here  are  the  keys  of  the  house." 
.  And  the  poor  old  man  sat  down  in  the  chimney- 


"ALL   IS   LOST"  279 

corner,  on  a  settee,  with  fixed  eyes  and  half -open 
mouth,  as  though  lost  in  some  painful  reverie. 

Then  began  the  journey  to  the  Falkenstein. 
Marc  Dives,  on  horseback,  sword  in  hand,  formed 
the  rear-guard.  Frantz  and  Hullin  watched  the 
plateau  to  the  left  ;  Kasper  and  Jerome  the  valley 
to  the  right  :  Materne  and  the  men  of  the  escort 
surrounded  the  women.  It  was  a  singular  sight. 
Before  the  cottages  of  the  village  of  Charmes,  on 
the  door-steps,  at  the  windows  and  loopholes,  ap- 
peared the  faces  of  young  and  old,  looking  at  the 
flight  of  Mother  Lef evre ;  nor  did  their  evil  tongues 
spare  her  : — "  Ah  !  they  are  turned  out  at  last," 
cried  some  ;  "  another  time,  do  not  meddle  with 
what  does  not  concern  you." 

Others  reflected  with  a  loud  voice,  that  Catherine 
had  been  rich  long  enough,  and  that  every  one 
should  have  his  turn  at  poverty.  As  for  the  indus- 
try, wisdom,  kind-heartedness,  and  all  the  virtues 
of  the  old  farm-wife,  or  Jean-Claude's  patriotism, 
or  the  courage  of  Jerome  and  the  three  Maternes, 
the  disinterested  motives  of  Doctor  Lorquin  or  Marc 
Dives's  self-sacrifice,  nobody  ever  mentioned  them  ; 
for  were  they  not  vanquished? 


CHAPTER  XXH 

ON   THE   FAT.KENSTEIN 

AT  the  end  of  the  valley  of  Bouleaux,  two  gun- 
shots from  the  village  of  Charmes,  to  the  left,  the 
little  troop  began  slowly  to  ascend  the  path  to  the 
old  "  burg."  Hullin,  remembering  how  he  had 
taken  the  same  road  when  he  went  to  buy  powder 
of  Marc  Dives,  could  not  help  feeling  very  sad. 
Then,  notwithstanding  his  journey  to  Phalsbourg, 
the  spectacle  of  the  wounded  from  Leipzig  and 
Hanau,  and  the  account  given  by  the  old  sergeant, 
he  did  not  despair  or  doubt  of  the  success  of  the  de- 
fence. Now  all  was  lost  ;  the  enemy  were  descend- 
ing into  Lorraine,  and  the  mountaineers  were  re- 
treating. Marc  Dives  rode  by  the  side  of  the  wall 
in  the  snow  ;  his  horse,  apparently  accustomed  to 
this  journey,  neighed  loudly.  The  smuggler  turned 
from  time  to  time  to  look  back  on  the  plateau  of 
Bois-de-Chenes.  Suddenly  he  exclaimed,  "  Look! 
here  come  the  Cossacks!  " 


ON   THE   FALKENSTEIN  281 

They  all  halted  to  look.  They  were  already  high 
up  on  the  mountain,  above  the  village  and  farm 
of  Bois-de-Chenes.  The  morning  mists  were  giving 
way  to  the  gray  light  of  the  winter's  day,  and,  on 
the  hill-side  could  be  distinguished  the  forms  of  sev- 
eral Cossacks,  with  their  heads  raised,  and  pistols 
pointed,  stealthily  approaching  the  old  farm-house. 
They  were  scattered  after  the  manner  of  sharp- 
shooters, as  if  they  feared  a  surprise.  A  few  min- 
utes later  more  appeared,  ascending  the  valley  of 
Houx,  then  still  more,  all  in  the  same  attitude,  up- 
right in  their  stirrups,  in  order  to  see  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. The  first,  having  passed  by  the  farm  and 
observing  nothing  threatening,  waved  their  lances 
and  returned  half  way  back.  Whereupon  the  oth- 
ers galloped  up  at  full  speed  like  a  flock  of  crows 
when  they  have  sighted  their  prey.  In  a  few  min- 
utes the  farm  was  surrounded  and  the  door  opened. 
In  another  moment  the  windows  were  smashed,  and 
the  furniture,  mattresses,  and  linen,  thrown  out- 
side. Catherine  calmly  looked  on  at  the  pillage. 
She  said  nothing  for  some  time  ;  but,  on  seeing  Ye- 
gof,  whom  she  had  not  perceived  before,  strike 
Duchene  with  the  butt-end  of  his  lance,  and  push 
him  out  of  the  farm,  she  could  not  restrain  a  cry  of 
indignation. 

"  The  wretch  !     Could  any  one  be  cowardly 


282     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

enough  to  strike  a  poor  old  man  unable  to  defend 
himself.  Ah  !  brigand,  if  I  only  held  thee  !  " 

"  Come  along,  Catherine,"  said  Jean-Claude  ; 
"  that's  enough  ;  what  is  the  use  of  gazing  at  such 
a  spectacle  any  longer?  " 

"  You  are  right,"  said  the  old  mistress  ;  "  let  us 
go  on,  or  I  shall  be  tempted  to  go  back  and  revenge 
myself." 

On  approaching  the  red  rocks,  incrusted  with 
large  white  and  black  pebbles,  overhanging  the 
precipice  like  the  arches  of  an  immense  cathedral, 
Louise  and  Catherine  stopped  in  ecstasy.  The  mag- 
nificent view  of  the  streams  of  Lorraine,  and  the 
blue  ribbon  of  the  Rhine  to  their  right,  with  the 
distant  woods  and  valleys,  filled  them  with  joy,  and 
the  old  dame  said  piously,  "  Jean-Claude,  He  who 
created  these  rocks,  and  formed  these  valleys,  for- 
ests, heaths,  and  mosses,  He  will  render  to  us  the 
justice  we  merit." 

As  they  were  gazing  thus  on  the  rugged  preci- 
pices, Marc  led  his  horse  into  a  cavern  close  by,  and, 
returning,  began  to  climb  up  before  them,  saying, 
"  Take  care,  or  you  may  slip  !  " 

At  the  same  time  he  pointed  to  the  blue  precipice 
on  their  right,  with  pine-trees  at  the  bottom.  Every- 
body then  relapsed  into  silence  till  the  terrace 
was  reached,  where  the  Arch,  commenced.  There 


ON  THE  FALKENSTEIN  283 

they  breathed  more  freely.  In  the  middle  of  the 
passage  were  the  smugglers  Brenn,  Pfeifer,  and 
Joubac,  with  their  long  gray  mantles  and  black  hats, 
sitting  round  a  fire.  Marc  Dives  said  to  them, 
"  Here  we  are  !  The  '  kaiserlichs  '  are  masters. 
Zimmer  was  killed  last  night.  Is  Hexe-Baizel  up 
there?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Brenn  ;  "  she  is  making  car- 
tridges." 

"  They  may  be  of  use,"  said  Marc.  "  Keep  your 
eyes  open,  and  if  any  come  up  fire  on  them." 

The  Maternes  halted  at  the  corner  of  the  rock;  and 
these  three  sturdy  men,  with  their  powerful  muscular 
limbs,  their  hats  pushed  back,  and  carbines  on  their 
shoulders,  offered  a  curious  spectacle  in  the  blue 
mists  of  the  abyss.  Old  Materne  was  pointing  with 
outstretched  hand  to  a  small  white  speck  in  the  dis- 
tance, almost  hidden  in  the  midst  of  the  pines.  "  Do 
you  recognize  that,  my  boys?  "  said  he  ;  and  they 
all  three  peered  through  their  half -closed  eyes. 

"  It  is  our  house,"  replied  Kasper. 

"  Poor  Margredel  !  "  rejoined  the  old  hunter, 
after  a  short  pause  ;  "  how  uneasy  she  must  have 
been  these  last  eight  days?  What  prayers  does  she 
not  offer  up  for  us  to  Saint-Odile?  " 

At  that  moment  Marc  Dives,  who  was  walking  on 
in  front,  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise. 


284    THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Mother  Lefevre,"  said  lie,  stopping  short,  "  the 
Cossacks  are  burning  your  farm." 

Catherine  received  the  tidings  very  calmly,  and 
advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  terrace,  Louise  and 
Jean-Claude  following.  At  the  bottom  of  the  abyss 
was  a  great  white  cloud,  through  which  could  be 
seen  a  bright  spark,  as  it  were,  on  the  side  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes — that  was  all  ;  but  at  intervals,  when  the 
wind  blew  strong,  the  flames  shot  up,  the  two  high 
black  gables,  the  hay-loft,  the  small  stables  burned 
brightly,  then  all  disappeared  once  more. 

"  It  is  nearly  finished,"  said  Hullin,  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Catherine  ;  "  there  are  the  labor 
and  trouble  of  forty  years  vanishing  in  smoke  ;  but 
they  cannot  burn  my  good  land,  nor  the  great 
meadow  of  Eichmath.  We  will  begin  our  work 
over  again.  Gaspard  and  Louise  will  repair  it  all. 
I  regret  nothing  I  have  done." 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  later  thousands  of  sparks 
arose,  and  the  building  crumbled  to  the  ground. 
The  black  gables  alone  remained  standing.  They 
continued  to  ascend  the  path.  As  they  were  ascend- 
ing the  higher  terrace,  they  heard  the  sharp  voice  of 
Hexe-Baizel. 

"Is  it  thou,  Catherine?"  she  cried.  "  Ah,  I 
never  thought  thou  wouldst  have  come  to  see  me  in 
my  wretched  hole." 


THERE   GO   UP  IN   SMOKE  FORTY  TEARS  OF   TOIL   AND  TROUBLB. 


ON   THE   FALKENSTEIN  285 

Baizel  and  Catherine  Lefevre  had  been  at  school 
together  in  former  days,  therefore  they  used  the 
third  person  when  speaking. 

"  NOT  I  neither,"  replied  the  old  farm-mistress. 
"  All  the  same,  Baizel — one  is  glad  to  find  in  mis- 
fortune an  old  companion  of  one's  childhood." 

Baizel  seemed  touched  by  her  words. 

"  All  that  is  here,  Catherine,  is  thine,"  she  ex- 
claimed; "  everything!  " 

She  pointed  to  her  miserable  stool,  the  furze 
broom,  and  the  five  or  six  fagots  on  the  hearth. 
Catherine  looked  on  a  few  moments  in  silence,  and 
then  said  :  "  It  is  not  grand,  but  it  is  solid  ;  at  least, 
they  will  not  be  able  to  burn  down  thy  house." 

"  No,  they  will  not  burn  it,"  said  Hexe-Baizel, 
laughing  ;  "  they  would  need  all  the  wood  of  the 
province  of  Dabo  even  to  warm  it  a  little.  Ha  ! 
ha  !  ha  !  " 

After  so  many  fatigues,  the  partisans  stood  in 
need  of  repose.  They  all  placed  their  guns  against 
the  wall,  and  lay  down  on  the  ground  to  sleep,  Marc 
Dives  having  opened  the  second  cavern  to  them, 
where  they  at  least  were  sheltered.  Marc  then 
went  out  with  Hullin  to  examine  their  position. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

MARC    DIVis's    MISSION 

ON  the  rock  of  the  Falkenstein,  high  up  in  the 
clouds,  stands  a  tower,  somewhat  sunken  at  its  base. 
This  tower,  overgrown  with  brambles,  hawthorn, 
and  bilberries,  is  as  old  as  the  mountain  ;  neither 
the  French,  Germans,  nor  Swedes  have  destroyed  it. 
The  stone  and  cement  are  so  solidly  combined  that 
not  even  a  fragment  can  be  detached  from  it.  It 
looks  gloomy  and  mysterious,  carrying  one  back  to 
ancient  times,  beyond  the  memory  of  man. 

At  that  time  of  the  year  when  the  wild-geese 
migrated  in  flocks,  Marc  Dives,  when  he  had  noth- 
ing better  to  do,  used  to  await  them  hidden  in  the 
tower,  and  sometimes  at  nightfall,  when  the  flocks 
came  through  the  fogs  flying  in  large  circles  be- 
fore resting,  he  would  bring  down  two  or  three, 
much  to  the  satisfaction  of  Hexe-Baizel,  who  was 
always  very  willing  to  put  them  on  a  spit.  Often, 
too,  in  the  autumn,  Marc  laid  traps  in  the  bushes, 
286 


MARC   DIVES'S   MISSION  287 

where  he  caught  thrushes.  The  old  tower  also 
served  him  as  a  wood-house. 

Dives,  perceiving  that  his  wood,  covered  with 
snow  and  soaked  by  rain,  gave  more  smoke  than 
light,  had  covered  in  the  old  tower  with  a  roof  of 
planks.  With  reference  to  this  occasion,  the  smug- 
gler related  a  curious  story.  He  pretended  that, 
on  laying  the  rafters,  he  had  discovered,  at  the  bot- 
tom of  a  fissure,  a  snow-white  owl,  blind  and  feeble, 
but  supplied  with  quantities  of  bats  and  field-mice. 
He  therefore  called  it  the  "  grandmother  of  the 
country,"  as  he  supposed  that  all  the  birds  came  to 
feed  it  on  account  of  its  extreme  old  age. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  day,  the  partisans  posted 
round  the  rock  saw  the  white  uniforms  appearing 
in  the  neighboring  gorges.  They  poured  in  on  all 
sides  in  large  numbers,  thereby  clearly  showing 
their  determination  to  blockade  the  Falkenstein. 
Perceiving  this,  Marc  Dives  became  more  thought- 
ful. "  If  they  surround  us,"  said  he,  "  we  shall 
not  be  able  to  procure  food,  and  shall  have  to  sur- 
render or  die  of  hunger." 

The  enemy's  staff  on  horseback  could  be  clearly 
distinguished,  halting  round  the  fountain  of  the 
village  of  Charmes.  There  also  stood  a  tall  chief 
with  a  large  paunch,  who  was  contemplating  the 
rock  through  a  telescope.  Behind  him  was  Yegof, 


288     THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

whom  from  time  to  time  lie  turned  round  to  ques- 
tion. The  women  and  children  formed  a  circle  be- 
yond them,  apparently  highly  delighted,  and  five  or 
six  Cossacks  pranced  about.  The  smuggler  could 
not  contain  himself  any  longer,  and,  taking  Hullin 
aside,  "  Look,"  said  he,  "  at  that  long  line  of 
shakos  gliding  along  the  Sarre,  and  at  the  others 
who  are  scaling  the  valley  on  this  side  like  hares  ; 
they  are  '  kaiserlichs,'  aren't  they?  Well,  what 
are  they  going  to  do,  Jean-Claude?  " 

"  They  are  going  to  surround  the  mountain,  that 
is  clear.  How  many  are  there,  dost  thou  think?  " 

"  From  three  to  four  thousand  men,  without 
counting  those  who  are  walking  over  the  country. 
Well,  what  can  Piorette  do  against  this  pack  of  vag- 
abonds with  three  hundred  men?  I  ask  thee  frank- 
ly, Hullin." 

"  He  can  do  nothing,"  replied  the  worthy  man, 
simply.  "  The  Germans  know  that  our  ammuni- 
tion is  on  the  Falkenstein  ;  they  dread  an  insurrec- 
tion after  they  enter  Lorraine,  and  wish  to  insure 
their  rear.  The  enemy's  general  knows  that  we 
cannot  be  taken  by  mere  force,  he  is  deciding  to  re- 
duce us  by  hunger.  All  that  is  true,  Marc  ;  but  we 
are  men  :  we  will  do  our  duty — we  will  die  here  !  " 

There  was  a  short  silence;  Marc  Dives  frowned, 
and  did  not  seem  at  all  convinced. 


MARC   DIVES'S   MISSION  289 

"  We  will  die  !  "  he  replied,  scratching  his  head. 
"  I  do  not  see  why  we  should  die  at  all  ;  it  is  not  our 
intention  to  die  :  too  many  people  would  be  grati- 
fied by  it." 

"  What  wouldst  thou  do?  "  said  Hullin,  dryly. 
"  Wouldst  thou  surrender?  " 

"  Surrender  !  "  exclaimed  the  smuggler.  "  Dost 
thou  take  me  for  a  coward?  " 

"  Then  explain  thyself." 

"  This  evening  I  start  for  Phalsbourg.  I  risk 
my  skin  in  crossing  the  enemy's  lines  ;  but  I  like 
that  better  than  folding  my  arms  here,  and  perishing 
with  hunger.  I  will  enter  the  town  on  the  first 
'  sortie,'  or  I  will  endeavor  to  climb  one  of  the 
gates.  The  commandant,  Meunier,  knows  me.  I 
have  sold  him  tobacco  for  three  years.  Like  thy- 
self, he  has  gone  through  the  campaigns  of  Italy 
and  Egypt.  Well,  I  will  explain  everything  to 
him.  I  shall  see  Gaspard  Lefevre.  I  will  so  ar- 
range that  they  will  give  us,  perhaps,  a  company. 
Dost  thou  see,  Jean-Claude,  that  the  uniform  alone 
would  save  us?  All  the  brave  men  who  remain  will 
join  Piorette  ;  and  in  any  case  we  shall  be  delivered. 
That  is  my  idea.  What  dost  thou  think  of  it?  " 

He  looked  at  Hullin,  whose  gloomy,  fixed  ex- 
pression made  him  uneasy. 

"  Dost  thou  not  think  that  a  chance?  " 
19 


29o     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  It  is  an  idea,"  said  Jean-Claude  at  last.  "  I 
do  not  oppose  it."  And,  looking  full  in  the  smug- 
gler's face,  "  Swear  to  me  to  do  thy  best  to  enter 
the  town." 

"  I  will  swear  nothing,"  replied  Marc,  whose 
brown  cheeks  were  covered  with  a  flush.  "  I  leave 
all  my  possessions  here,  my  wife,  my  comrades, 
Catherine  Lefevre,  and  thee,  my  oldest  friend  !  If 
I  do  not  return,  I  shall  be  a  traitor  ;  but  if  I  return, 
Jean-Claude,  thou  shalt  explain  what  thou  meanest 
by  thy  demand  :  we  will  settle  this  little  affair  be- 
tween us." 

"  Marc,"  said  Hullin,  "  forgive  me  !  I  have 
suffered  much  these  last  days.  I  was  wrong.  Mis- 
fortune makes  one  distrustful.  Give  me  thy  hand. 
Go  !  Save  us,  save  Catherine,  save  my  child  1  I 
say  so  now  :  our  only  resource  is  in  thee." 

Hullin's  voice  faltered.  Dives  relented  ;  but  he 
rejoined  :  "  All  the  same,  Hullin,  thou  shouldst  not 
have  said  that  to  me  at  such  a  time.  Never  let  us 
speak  of  it  again.  I  will  leave  my  skin  on  the  way, 
or  return  to  deliver  you.  This  evening,  when  dark- 
ness sets  in,  I  will  leave.  The  '  kaiserlichs '  sur- 
round the  mountain  already  ;  but  no  matter,  I  have 
a  good  horse,  and,  besides,  I  have  always  been 
lucky." 

By  six  o'clock  the  highest  peaks  were  hid  in  dark- 


MARC   DIVES'S   MISSION  291 

ness.  Hundreds  of  fires,  sparkling  in  the  depths  of 
the  gorges,  announced  that  the  Germans  were  pre- 
paring their  repasts. 

Marc  Dives  felt  his  way  down  the  narrow  path. 
Hullin  listened  for  a  few  seconds  to  the  retreating 
steps  of  his  comrade,  then  walked  anxiously  toward 
the  old  tower,  where  their  head-quarters  were  es- 
tablished. He  lifted  the  thick  woollen  covering 
which  closed  the  owl's-nest,  and  perceived  Cathe- 
rine, Louise,  and  the  others  crouching  round  a  small 
fire.  The  old  farm-mistress  sat  on  an  oak  log,  her 
hands  clasped  round  her  knees,  watching  the  flames 
fixedly,  with  compressed  lips.  Louise  leant  dream- 
ily against  the  wall.  Jerome  stood  behind  Cathe- 
rine, his  hands  crossed  on  his  stick,  his  otter-skin 
cap  touching  the  mouldy  roof.  All  were  sad  and 
discouraged.  Hexe-Baizel,  who  was  lifting  the 
lid  of  a  kettle,  and  Doctor  Lorquin,  who  was 
scratching  the  softer  parts  of  the  old  wall  with 
the  point  of  his  sabre,  alone  preserved  their  usual 
expression. 

"  Here  we  are,"  said  the  doctor,  "  returned  to 
the  days  of  the  Triboquea.  These  walls  are  more 
than  two  thousand  years  old.  A  great  deal  of  wa- 
ter must  have  flowed  from  the  heights  of  the  Falk- 
enstein  and  Grosmann  to  the  Sarre  and  Khine  since 
a  fire  was  last  kindled  in  this  tower." 


292     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  Yes,"  replied  Catherine,  as  though  awaking 
from  a  dream  ;  "  and  many  besides  ourselves  have 
suffered  cold,  hunger,  and  misery  here.  Who  knew 
of  it?  No  one.  And  one,  or  two,  or  three  hun- 
dred years  hence,  others,  perhaps,  will  again  come 
for  shelter  to  this  place.  They  will  find,  as  we  have, 
the  wall  cold,  and  the  earth  damp  ;  they  will  make 
a  fire  ;  they  will  look  as  we  look  ;  and  they  will  say, 
like  us,  '  Who  suffered  here  before  ourselves?  Why 
did  they  suffer  ?  They  must  have  been  pursued  and 
hunted,  like  ourselves,  to  be  obliged  to  come  and 
hide  in  this  wretched  hole.'  And  they  will  think 
of  past  times;  and  no  one  will  reply." 

Jean-Claude  came  up  to  them.  The  old  dame, 
raising  her  head,  and  looking  at  him,  said,  "  Well  ! 
we  are  blockaded  ;  the  enemy  wants  to  subdue  us 
by  famine." 

"  True,  Catherine,"  replied  Hullin;  "  but  I  did 
not  expect  that.  I  felt  certain  of  a  sudden  attack; 
but  the  '  kaiserlichs '  have  not  gained  all  yet. 
Dives  has  just  left  for  Phalsbourg.  He  knows  the 
commandant  of  the  place;  and  if  they  will  only 
send  a  few  hundred  men  to  our  help " 

"Do  not  count  on  that,"  interrupted  the  old 
woman.  "  Marc  may  be  taken  or  killed  by  the 
Germans:  and,  if  not,  and  suppose  he  manages  to 
cross  their  lines,  how  will  he  be  able  to  enter  Phals- 


MARC   DIVES'S   MISSION  293 

bourg?    You  well  know  that  the  town  is  besieged 
by  the  Kussians." 

Then  everybody  relapsed  into  silence.  Hexe- 
Baizel  brought  up  the  soup,  and  they  sat  in  a  circle 
round  the  smoking  bowl. 


CHAPTER  XXIY 

A    FLAG    OF    TRUCE 

CATHERINE  LEFEVRE  came  out  of  the  ancient 
ruin  about  seven  in  the  morning;  Louise  and 
Hexe-Baizel  were  still  asleep;  but  broad  daylight, 
the  clear  light  of  the  high  regions,  was  already 
penetrating  the  abysses.  In  the  depths,  through 
the  azure,  the  woods,  valleys,  and  rocks  could  be 
clearly  traced,  like  the  mosses  and  pebbles  of  a  lake 
beneath  the  blue  crystal  water.  Not  a  breath  dis- 
turbed the  air;  and  Catherine,  gazing  over  this 
grand  spectacle,  felt  a  calmness  and  tranquillity  be- 
yond even  that  which  comes  of  sleep.  "  What  are 
our  miseries  of  a  day,"  thought  she,  "  our  uneasi- 
nesses and  our  sufferings?  Why  pester  heaven 
with  our  moans?  why  fear  the  future?  All  this 
lasts  but  a  second;  our  sighs  are  of  no  more  avail 
than  the  chirp  of  the  grasshopper  in  autumn;  and 
do  its  cries  prevent  winter  from  coming?  Must 
not  time  pursue  its  course,  and  everything  die  to 
be  renewed  2" 


A  FLAG   OF  TRUCE  295 

Thus  thought  the  old  dame,  and  she  had  no 
longer  any  fears  for  the  future.  She  had  been  thus 
musing  for  a  few  instants,  when  suddenly  a  hum 
of  voices  struck  her  ears:  she  turned,  and  saw  Hul- 
liu  with  the  three  smugglers,  talking  seriously  to- 
gether on  the  other  side  of  the  plateau.  They  were 
engaged  in  a  grave  discussion,  and  had  not  noticed 
her.  Catherine  approached  closer  to  them,  and 
heard  the  following  conversation : — 

"  Then  you  do  not  think  it  possible  for  any  one 
to  get  down  either  side?  " 

"  No,  Jean-Claude,  it  is  quite  impossible,"  re- 
plied Brenn;  "those  brigands  know  the  country 
thoroughly  well :  all  the  paths  are  guarded.  Hold, 
look  along  the  paths  of  that  stream:  we  never 
dreamt  of  observing  it  even;  well!  they  are  de- 
fending that  now.  And  over  there,  on  the  passage 
of  the  Rothstein,  a  path  only  for  a  goat,  which  is 
not  trodden  once  in  ten  years — thou  canst  see  a 
bayonet  sparkle  behind  the  rock,  canst  thou  not? 
And  that  nearer  path  along  which  I  have  slipped 
with  my  bags  for  these  eight  years  past  without 
meeting  a  single  gendarme,  they  occupy  that  also: 
the  devil  certainly  must  have  showed  them  all  the 
defiles." 

"Yes,"  exclaimed  Joubac,  "if  the  devil  has 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  at  least  Yegof  has!  " 


296     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

"  But,"  continued  Hullin,  "  it  seems  to  me  that 
three  or  four  men  might,  if  they  liked,  push  through 
one  of  those  posts." 

"  No,  those  posts  lean  one  on  the  other;  at  the 
first  shot  one  would  have  a  whole  regiment  upon 
one's  shoulders,"  replied  Brenn.  "  Besides,  suppos- 
ing one  had  the  luck  to  get  through,  how  could 
one  return  with  provisions?  My  opinion  is,  that 
it  is  impossible." 

There  was  a  pause. 

"  After  that,"  said  Joubac,  "  if  Hullin  likes  we 
will  try  all  the  same." 

"  We  will  try  what?  "  said  Brenn.  "  To  break 
our  legs  in  escaping  ourselves,  and  leave  the  others 
in  the  trap.  I  don't  mind;  if  any  others  go,  I  will 
too.  But  as  for  pretending  to  return  with  provi- 
sions, it  is  impossible.  Come,  Joubac,  by  which 
way  art  thou  going,  and  by  which  way  wilt  thou 
return?  If  thou  knowest  of  a  passage,  tell  me. 
For  twenty  years  I  have  scoured  the  mountain 
with  Marc.  I  know  all  the  paths  and  roads  ten 
leagues  round,  and  I  see  no  other  way  but  through 
the  sky!" 

Hullin  turned  round  at  that  moment  and  saw 
Mother  Lefevre,  close  behind,  listening  attentively. 

"What!  were  you  there,  Catherine?"  said  he. 
"  Our  affairs  are  taking  a  bad  turn." 


A  FLAG   OF  TRUCE  297 

"  Yes,  I  heard;  there  is  no  means  of  renewing 
our  provisions." 

"  Our  provisions!  "  said  Brenn  with  a  queer 
laugh.  "  Are  you  aware,  Mother  Lefevre,  for  how 
long  we  have  them?  " 

"  Why,  for  a  fortnight,"  replied  the  old  dame. 

"  For  a  week,"  said  the  smuggler,  shaking  out 
the  ashes  from  his  pipe. 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Hullin,  "  Marc  Dives  and  my- 
self thought  they  would  attack  the  Falkenstein; 
we  never  imagined  the  enemy  would  blockade  it 
like  a  fortress.  We  have  been  deceived!  " 

"  And  what  is  to  be  done?  "  said  Catherine, 
turning  pale. 

"  We  are  going  to  put  everybody  on  half  rations. 
If,  in  a  fortnight,  Marc  does  not  return  we  shall 
have  nothing  left — then  we  shall  see." 

So  saying,  Hullin,  Catherine,  and  the  smug- 
glers, with  bowed  heads,  took  the  path  to  the  breach 
again.  As  they  were  coming  down  the  slope,  thirty 
feet  below  them  they  perceived  Materne.  He  was 
climbing  breathlessly  among  the  ruins,  and 
clutched  hold  of  the  bushes  to  help  him  along  faster. 

"Well,"  shouted  Jean-Claude  to  him;  "what 
is  the  matter,  old  fellow?  " 

"  Ah !  there  thou  art.  I  was  coming  to  find 
thee;  one  of  the  enemy's  officers  has  come  forward 


298    THE  INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

on  the  wall  of  the  old  '  burg '  with  a  little  white 
flag;  he  looks  as  though  he  had  something  to  say 
to  us." 

Hullin  advanced  immediately  to  the  edge  of 
the  rock,  and  saw  a  German  officer  standing  on  the 
wall,  and  awaiting  a  signal  to  mount.  He  was 
about  two  gun-shots  distant;  farther  behind  five 
or  six  soldiers  were  stationed  with  their  arms 
shouldered.  After  having  inspected  this  group, 
Jean-Claude  turned  and  said :  "  It  is  a  flag  of  truce. 
He  comes  no  doubt  to  summon  us  to  surrender." 

"  Fire  upon  them!  "  cried  Catherine;  "  it  is  all 
we  have  to  say." 

All  the  others  appeared  of  the  same  advice,  ex- 
cepting Hullin,  who,  without  making  any  reply 
descended  to  the  terrace,  where  the  rest  of  the  par- 
tisans were  assembled. 

"  My  children,"  said  he,  "  the  enemy  sends  us 
a  flag  of  truce.  We  do  not  know  what  he  wants 
of  us.  I  suppose  it  is  to  order  us  to  lay  down  our 
arms;  but  it  may  possibly  be  something  else. 
Frantz  and  Kasper  will  go  to  meet  him;  they  must 
blindfold  the  officer  and  lead  him  here." 

No  objection  being  made,  Materne's  sons  shoul 
dered  their  carbines  and  walked  away  under  the 
lofty  arch.  About  ten  minutes  later,  the  two  red- 
haired  hunters  reached  the  officer;  there  was  a  rapid 


A   FLAG   OF   TRUCE  299 

conference  between  them,  after  which  all  three  be- 
gan to  climb  to  the  Falkenstein.  By  degrees,  -as 
the  party  ascended,  the  uniform  of  the  officer  and  his 
face  could  be  distinguished:  he  was  a  thin  man, 
with  light  brown  hair,  well  made,  and  determined- 
looking.  At  the  foot  of  the  rock  Frantz  and  Kas- 
per  blindfolded  him,  and  soon  the  sound  of  their 
steps  under  the  arch  could  be  heard. 

Jean-Claude  going  toward  them,  himself  un- 
bound the  handkerchief,  saying,  "  You  desire  to 
communicate  something  to  me,  sir;  I  am  listen- 
ing." 

The  partisans  stood  about  fifteen  paces  away. 
Catherine  Lefevre,  the  foremost  among  them, 
frowned ;  her  bony,  angular  face,  long  beaked  nose, 
her  three  or  four  tresses  of  gray  hair,  falling  down 
over  her  temples  and  hollow  cheek-bones,  her  com- 
pressed lips,  and  the  fixity  of  her  gaze,  appeared 
at  first  to  rivet  the  attention  of  the  German  officer. 
Next  to  her  stood  Louise,  with  her  sweet  pale  face. 
Jerome,  with  his  long  tawny  beard,  draped  in  his 
horse-hair  tunic,  and  Materne,  leaning  on  his  short 
carbine,  and  the  others  around  him  completed  the 
group. 

The  officer  himself  was  the  object  of  particular 
attention.  One  could  see  in  him,  his  attitude,  fine 
sunburnt  features,  clear  gray  eyes,  handsome  mus- 


Soo     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

tache,  in  the  elegance  of  his  limbs,  hardened  by 
the  labors  of  war,  a  member  of  an  aristocratic  race : 
he  combined  the  old  soldier  and  the  man  of  the 
world,  the  warrior  and  the  diplomatist. 

This  reciprocal  inspection  being  finished,  the 
bearer  of  the  flag  of  truce  said,  in  good  French,  "  I 
have  the  honor  of  addressing  the  Commandant 
Hullin?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Jean-Claude. 

And  seeing  the  other  gazing  hesitatingly  around 
the  circle,  he  continued,  "  Speak  loud,  £ir,  so  that 
everybody  may  hear  you.  When  honor  and  the 
country  are  in  question  all  are  concerned  in  France; 
the  women  are  interested  as  well  as  ourselves.  Have 
you  any  proposition  to  make  me,  and  from  whom?  " 

"  From  the  General  Commander-in-chief.  Here 
is  my  commission." 

"  Good;  we  are  listening  to  you,  sir." 

Then  the  officer,  raising  his  voice,  said  in  a  reso- 
lute tone :  "  Permit  me  first,  commandant,  to  re- 
mark that  you  have  fulfilled  your  duty  splendidly: 
you  have  called  forth  the  esteem  of  your  enemies." 

"  In  the  matter  of  duty,"  replied  Hullin,  "  we 
have  all  done  our  best." 

"  Yes,"  added  Catherine,  dryly,  "  and  since  our 
enemies  esteem  us  on  that  account,  well,  they  will 
esteem  us  still  more  in  eight  or  fifteen  days,  for  we 


A   FLAG   OF  TRUCE  301 

have  not  reached  the  end  of  the  war  yet.  You 
will  live  to  see  more  of  us." 

The  officer  turned  his  head,  and  looked  with 
astonishment  at  the  savage  energy  in  the  old  wom- 
an's face. 

"  They  are  noble  sentiments,"  he  retorted,  after 
an  instant's  silence:  "  but  humanity  has  its  rights, 
and  to  squander  blood  uselessly  is  returning  evil 
for  evil." 

"Then  why  do  you  come  into  our  country?" 
cried  Catherine  sharply.  "  Go  away,  and  we  will 
let  you  alone.  You  make  war  like  brigands:  you 
steal,  pillage,  and  burn.  You  all  deserve  to  be 
hanged.  And  to  set  a  good  example,  you  personally 
ought  to  be  hurled  over  that  rock." 

The  officer  turned  pale,  for  the  old  woman  seemed 
quite  capable  of  carrying  out  her  threat;  however 
he  soon  regained  his  composure,  and  replied  calmly: 
"  I  am  aware  that  the  Cossacks  have  set  fire  to  the 
farm  in  front  of  this  rock.  They  are  pillagers, 
such  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  rear  of  every  army, 
and  this  isolated  act  proves  nothing  against  the  dis- 
cipline of  our  troops.  The  French  soldiers  did  the 
same  in  Germany,  and  particularly  in  the  Tyrol; 
not  content  with  pillaging  and  burning  the  villages, 
they  mercilessly  shot  all  mountaineers  suspected  of 
having  taken  up  arms  for  the  defence  of  their  coun- 


3oz     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

try.  We  might  make  reprisals,  and  should  be  justi- 
fied in  doing  so ;  but  we  are  not  barbarians,  we  can 
understand  that  patriotism  is  noble  and  grand,  even 
in  its  most  ill-advised  acts.  Besides,  we  are  not 
making  war  on  the  French  people,  but  on  the  Em- 
peror Napoleon.  And  the  general,  on  learning  the 
conduct  of  the  Cossacks,  has  publicly  punished  this 
act  of  Vandalism;  more,  he  has  decided  that  an 
indemnity  shall  be  accorded  to  the  proprietor  of  the 
farm." 

"  I  will  not  receive  anything  from  you,"  Cath- 
erine hastily  interrupted;  "  I  will  keep  my  injus- 
tice and  revenge  myself." 

The  officer  understanding  by  the  accent  of  the 
old  woman's  voice  that  he  could  make  no  impres- 
sion upon  her,  and  feeling  that  it  was  even  danger- 
ous for  him  to  reply,  turned  toward  Hullin,  and 
said :  "  I  am  ordered,  commandant,  to  offer  you  the 
honors  of  war  if  you  will  consent  to  give  up  this 
position.  You  have  no  provisions,  we  know  that. 
In  a  few  days  you  will  be  obliged  to  lay  down  your 
arms.  The  esteem  felt  for  you  by  our  general  has 
alone  caused  him  to  make  you  honorable  conditions. 
A  longer  resistance  would  be  useless.  We  are  mas- 
ters of  the  Donon,  our  battalions  are  entering  Lor- 
raine; the  campaign  will  not  be  concluded  here, 
therefore  you  have  no  interest  in  defending  such  a 


A   FLAG   OF  TRUCE  303 

position.  We  -wish  to  spare  you  the  horrors  of  fam- 
ine on  this  barren  rock.  Come,  commandant,  de- 
cide." 

Hullin  turned  toward  the  partisans  and  said  to 
them:  "You  have  heard?  I  refuse;  but  I  will 
submit  if  everybody  accepts  the  propositions  of  the 
enemy." 

"  We  refuse,  all  of  us,"  said  Jerome. 

"  Yes,  all,"  replied  the  others. 

Catherine  Lefevre,  who  had  looked  inflexible  till 
then,  regarded  Louise  and  seemed  touched;  she 
took  her  by  the  arm,  and  turning  toward  the  offi- 
cer, said  to  him:  "We  have  a  child  with  us;  is 
there  no  means  by  which  we  could  send  her  to  one 
of  our  relations  at  Saverne  ?  " 

Hardly  had  Louise  heard  these  words,  than 
throwing  herself  into  Hullin's  arms  with  fear,  she 
cried  out :  "  No,  no,  I  will  remain  with  you,  Papa 
Jean-Claude;  I  will  die  with  you." 

"Well,"  said  Hullin;  "go  tell  your  general 
what  you  have  seen:  tell  him  that  the  Falkenstein 
will  be  ours  till  death !  Kasper,  Frantz,  reconduct 
the  truce-bearer." 

The  officer  appeared  to  hesitate,  but  as  he  opened 
his  mouth  to  speak,  Catherine,  pale  with  rage, 
exclaimed,  "  Begone !  you  have  not  yet  gained  all 
the  advantages  you  think.  It  is  that  brigand  Ye- 


304     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

gof  who  has  told  you  that  we  have  no  provisions; 
but  we  have  for  two  months,  and  by  that  time  our 
army  will  have  exterminated  you  all.  Traitors  will 
not  always  have  the  best  of  it:  bad  luck  to  you." 

Seeing  she  was  becoming  more  and  more  excit- 
ed, the  officer  thought  it  best  to  take  his  departure : 
he  turned  to  his  guides,  who  put  the  bandages  over 
his  eyes,  and  conducted  him  to  the  foot  of  the  Falk- 
enstein. 

The  instructions  which  Hullin  had  given  con- 
cerning the  provisions  were  executed  on  the  same 
day,  and  each  received  his  half  ration.  A  sentry  was 
placed  before  Hexe-Baizel's  cavern,  where  the  food 
was  kept;  the  door  was  barricaded,  and  Jean- 
Claude  decided  that  the  distributions  should  be 
made  in  the  presence  of  all,  so  as  to  prevent  any  in- 
justice; but  all  these  precautions  were  destined  to 
fail  in  preserving  the  unfortunate  people  from  the 
horrors  of  famine. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


FOE  three  days  they  had  been  entirely  without 
food  on  the  Falkenstein,  and  Dives  had  given  no 
signs  of  life.  How  often,  during  those  long  days 
of  agony,  did  the  mountaineers  turn  their  eyes  to- 
ward Phalsbourg! — how  often  had  they  listened, 
fancying  they  could  hear  the  smuggler's  step,  while 
the  vague  murmur  of  the  wind  alone  filled  the 
space! 

The  nineteenth  day  since  the  arrival  of  the  par- 
tisans on  the  Falkenstein  was  passed  amidst  all  the 
tortures  of  hunger.  They  no  longer  spoke;  they 
remained  crouched  on  the  earth,  with  pinched  faces, 
and  lost  in  endless  reveries.  Sometimes  they 
watched  each  other  with  sparkling  eyes,  as  though 
about  to  devour  one  another,  then  relapsed  into 
sullen  calm. 

Occasionally  Yegof's  raven,  flying  from  crag  to 
crag,  would  approach  this  place  of  misfortune. 
Then  old  Materne  would  take  aim  with  his  rifle, 

30  305 


306     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

but  the  ill-omened  bird  would  immediately  take 
flight  with  dismal  croakings,  and  the  old  hunter's 
arm  fell  helpless  by  his  side.  And  as  though  the 
exhaustion  of  hunger  was  not  enough  to  fill  the 
measure  of  so  much  misery,  the  poor  creatures  only 
opened  their  mouths  to  accuse  and  menace  one  an- 
other. 

"  Do  not  touch  me,"  cried  Hexe-Baizel,  in  a 
shrill  voice  to  those  who  looked  at  her — "  do  not 
look  at  me,  or  I  will  bite  you!  " 

Louise  was  delirious;  her  great  blue  eyes,  in- 
stead of  living  objects,  saw  only  shadows  flit  across 
the  plateau,  touching  the  tops  of  the  bushes,  and 
resting  on  the  old  tower. 

"  Here  is  food!  "  she  said.  Then  the  others  be- 
came enraged  with  the  poor  child,  crying  out  with 
fury,  that  she  was  mocking  them,  and  bidding  her 
beware. 

Jerome  alone  remained  perfectly  calm;  but  the 
great  quantity  of  snow  he  had  swallowed  to  appease 
the  pangs  of  ravenous  hunger,  had  inundated  his 
whole  body  and  bony  face  with  a  cold  sweat.  To 
appease  the  cravings  of  his  stomach,  Doctor  Lor- 
quin  had  bound  a  handkerchief  round  his  loins,  and 
tightened  it  more  and  more.  He  was  seated  with 
his  back  against  the  tower,  and  his  eyes  closed, 
though  he  now  and  then  opened  them  to  say,  "  We 


"BATTLE   OF  THE   ROCKS"  307 

have  reached  the  first — the  second — the  third  stage. 
One  more  day,  and  all  will  be  over!  " 

He  then  began  to  declaim  about  the  Druids, 
Odin,  Brahma,  Pythagoras,  quoting  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  announcing  the  near  transformation  of 
the  people  of  Harberg  into  wolves,  foxes,  and  ani- 
mals of  all  sorts.  "  For  myself,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I 
will  be  a  lion!  I  will  eat  fifteen  pounds  of  beef 
every  day!  " 

Then  renewing  his  discourse: — "No,  I  will  be 
a  man.  I  will  preach  peace,  brotherhood,  justice. 
Ah,  my  friends,  we  suffer  for  our  own  faults. 
What  have  we  done  with  the  other  side  of  the 
Rhine  for  the  last  ten  years?  With  what  right  did 
we  set  up  masters  over  those  peoples?  Why  did 
we  not  exchange  our  ideas,  our  sentiments,  the 
produce  of  our  arts  and  of  our  industry  with  theirs? 
Why  did  we  not  approach  them  like  brothers,  in 
place  of  wishing  to  subject  them  to  us?  We  should 
have  been  well  received.  What  must  they  not  have 
suffered,  those  unhappy  people,  during  those  ten 
years  of  violence  and  rapine!  Now  they  are 
avenged,  and  it  is  just!  May  the  malediction  of 
heaven  fall  on  the  miserable  wretches  who  get  up 
divisions  among  peoples  in  order  to  oppress  them !  " 

After  these  moments  of  excitement  he  would 
fall  exhausted  against  the  wall  of  the  tower,  and 


3o8     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

murmur — "  Some   bread;    oh,   only   a  morsel   of 
bread!" 

Materne's  two  sons,  crouched  in  the  brushwood, 
their  carbines  at  their  shoulders,  seemed  to  expect 
the  passage  of  some  game  which  never  arrived. 
Their  ceaseless  watching  alone  sustained  their  ex- 
piring strength. 

Others,  bent  double  with  pain,  were  shivering 
with  cold,  and  yet  were  burning  with  fever:  they 
reproached  Jean-Claude  with  having  brought  them 
to  the  Falkenstein. 

Hullin,  with  a  superhuman  force  of  character, 
still  went  and  came,  observing  what  took  place  in 
the  neighboring  valleys,  but  without  saying  any- 
thing. 

Occasionally  he  would  advance  to  the  edge  of 
the  rock,  and  with  his  massive  jaws  clinched  and 
shining  eyes,  looked  at  Yegof,  seated  before  a  large 
fire,  on  the  plains  of  Bois-de-Chenes,  in  the  midst 
of  a  band  of  Cossacks.  Since  the  arrival  of  the 
Germans  in  the  valley  of  the  Charmes,  the  mad- 
man had  never  quitted  his  post,  but  appeared  to  be 
watching  the  agony  of  his  victims. 

Such  was  the  position  of  these  unfortunate  peo- 
ple beneath  the  open  heaven. 

In  the  gloom  of  a  prison  the  torture  of  hunger 
is  doubtless  frightful,  but  in  the  broad  light  of 


FOH  TUIIEE  DAYS  PROVISIONS  HAD  COMPLETELY   FAILED. 


"BATTLE   OF   THE   ROCKS"  309 

day,  in  the  eyes  of  a  whole  country,  in  face  of  all 
the  resources  of  nature,  its  sufferings  are  beyond 
all  description. 

At  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  day,  between  four 
and  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  weather  was 
gloomy;  large  gray  clouds  rose  behind  the  snowy 
summit  of  the  Grosmann;  the  red  sun,  like  a  ball 
of  fire,  threw  a  few  last  rays  into  the  misty  horizon. 
The  silence  on  the  rock  was  unbroken.  Louise  no 
longer  gave  signs  of  life;  Kasper  and  Frantz  re- 
mained among  the  bushes  immovable  as  stones; 
Catherine  Lefevre,  crouching  on  the  earth,  her 
skinny  arms  clasped  round  her  pointed  knees,  with 
hard,  rigid  features,  her  hair  hanging  over  her 
clammy  cheeks,  looked  like  some  old  sibyl  seated 
in  the  heather.  She  had  ceased  speaking.  That 
evening,  Hullin,  Jerome,  old  Materne,  and  Doctor 
Lorquin  gathered  themselves  around  the  old  farm- 
mistress  to  die.  They  were  silent,  and  the  last  rays 
of  twilight  fell  upon  the  wretched  group.  To  the 
right,  behind  a  jutting  rock,  a  few  German  watch- 
fires  sparkled  in  the  abyss.  Suddenly  the  old  dame, 
rousing  from  her  dreams,  began  to  murmur  some 
unintelligible  words. 

"  Dives  is  coming,"  said  she,  in  a  low  voice. 
"  I  see  him.  He  goes  out  from  the  door  to  the 
right  of  the  arsenal.  Gaspard  follows  him, 
and " 


3io     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

Then  she  began  to  count. 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  men,"  she  exclaimed; 
"  National  Guards  and  soldiers.  They  cross  the 
ditch;  they  mount  behind  the  demilune.  Gaspard 
is  speaking  with  Marc.  What  does  he  say?  " 

She  appeared  to  listen. 

"Let  us  hurry! — yes,  hurry!  Time  flies! 
There  they  are  on  the  glacis!  " 

There  was  a  long  pause;  then  the  old  woman 
suddenly  arose,  with  outstretched  arms  and  hair  on 
end,  and  screamed  aloud  in  a  terrible  voice: — 
"  Courage!  Kill,  kill!  Ah,  ah!  "  And  she  fell 
down  heavily. 

This  fearful  cry  awoke  them  all;  it  would  have 
aroused  the  dead.  The  besieged  seemed  born  anew. 
Something  was  abroad.  Was  it  hope,  life,  a  spirit? 
I  know  not;  but  all  rose  up  on  their  hands  and 
knees,  like  wild  beasts,  holding  their  breath  to  hear. 
Louise  even  moved  softly  and  lifted  her  head; 
Frantz  and  Kasper  dragged  themselves  along;  and, 
strange  to  say,  Hullin,"  turning  his  eyes  toward 
Phalsbourg,  thought  he  saw  through  the  darkness 
the  flashes  of  a  fusillade  announcing  a  sortie. 

Catherine  had  resumed  her  first  appearance;  but 
her  cheeks,  before  still  and  pale  as  those  of  a  corpse, 
trembled  now.  The  others  listened  as  though  their 
salvation  hung  on  her  lips.  A  quarter  of  an, hour 


"BATTLE   OF  THE   ROCKS"  311 

nearly  had  passed,  when  the  old  dame  slowly  re- 
commenced : — "  They  have  passed  the  enemy's 
lines;  they  are  running  toward  Lutzelbourg.  I 
see  them!  Gaspard  and  Dives  are  before,  with  Des- 
marets,  Ulrich,  Weber,  and  our  friends  of  the  town. 
They  come!  they  come!  " 

She  again  became  silent.  Long  did  they  listen; 
but  the  vision  was  gone.  Seconds  followed  seconds 
slowly  like  centuries.  At  length,  Hexe-Baizel,  in 
an  angry  voice,  began  to  say: — "  She  is  mad!  She 
saw  nothing!  Marc,  I  know  him:  he  is  making 
fun  of  us.  What  does  it  matter  to  him  if  we  perish? 
So  long  as  he  has  his  bottle  and  tobacco  and  can 
smoke  his  pipe  in  peace  by  the  fireside,  all  the  rest 
is  nothing.  Ah,  the  wretch !  " 

Then  all  relapsed  into  silence,  and  the  unhap- 
py creatures,  reanimated  for  an  instant  by  hope  of 
a  speedy  deliverance,  again  fell  into  despair. 

"  It  is  a  dream,"  thought  they;  "  Hexe-Baizel 
is  right:  we  are  condemned  to  die  of  hunger." 

While  this  was  going  on  night  arrived.  When 
the  moon  rose  behind  the  high  pine-trees,  and  lit 
up  the  gloomy  group,  Ehillin  alone  kept  watch,  in 
spite  of  his  raging  fever.  Far  off — very  far  off  in 
the  gorges — he  heard  the  voices  of  the  German  sen- 
tries; "Werda?  Wer  da  ?"  the  rounds  of  the  pa- 
trols in  the  woods;  the  shrill  neighing  of  the  horses 


312     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

at  the  picket,  and  the  shouts  of  their  keepers. 
Toward  midnight  the  worthy  fellow  fell  asleep  like 
the  rest.  When  he  awoke,  the  clock  of  the  village 
of  Charmes  struck  four.  At  the  sound  of  the  dis- 
tant chimes,  Hullin  shook  off  his  drowsiness,  and 
he  opened  his  eyes.  As  he  gazed  unconsciously  into 
the  darkness,  trying  to  collect  his  thoughts,  the 
vague  glimmer  of  a  torch  passed  before  his  eyes. 
A  feeling  of  dread  came  over  him,  and  he  said  to 
himself: — "  Am  I  mad?  The  night  is  dark,  and 
I  see  torches!" 

Nevertheless,  the  flame  reappeared;  he  looked 
at  it,  then  raised  himself  quickly,  resting  his  con- 
tracted face  for  a  second  in  his  hand.  At  length, 
hazarding  one  more  look,  he  distinctly  saw  a  fire  on 
the  Giromani,  on  the  other  side  of  Blanru — a  fire 
which  swept  the  heavens  with  its  purple  wings, 
causing  the  shadows  of  the  pines  to  dance  on  the 
snow.  Recalling  to  himself  that  this  signal  had 
been  agreed  upon  between  him  and  Piorette  to  an- 
nounce an  attack,  he  trembled  from  head  to  foot, 
his  face  streamed  with  perspiration,  and,  walking 
in  the  dark,  groping  like  a  blind  man  with  his 
hands  outstretched,  he  stammered, — "  Catherine, 
Louise,  Jerome."  But  no  one  answered.  Still 
groping  about,  thinking  he  was  walking  while  he 
did  not  make  a  step,  the  unfortunate  man  fell  down, 


BATTLE   OF   THE   ROCKS" 


3*3 


exclaiming,  "My  children!  Catherine!  they  come! 
We  are  saved!  " 

A  vague  sound  immediately  arose.  One  would 
have  said  that  the  dead  were  awaking.  There  was 
a  shrill  laugh:  it  was  Hexe-Baizel,  gone  mad  from 
her  sufferings. 

Then  Catherine  exclaimed :  "  Hullin !  Hullin ! 
who  spoke  ?  " 

Jean-Claude,  recovering  from  his  emotion,  said, 
in  firmer  tones :  "  Jerome,  Catherine,  Materne,  and 
the  others,  are  you  dead?  Do  you  not  see  that  fire 
down  there,  in  the  direction  of  Blanru?  It  is  Pio- 
rette,  who  is  coming  to  our  assistance." 

At  the  same  instant,  a  deep  boom  rolled  along 
the  gorges  of  the  Jagerthal,  like  the  rumbling  of  a 
storm.  The  summoning  trumpet  of  the  Judgment 
could  not  have  produced  a  greater  effect  on  the  be- 
sieged :  they  suddenly  awoke. 

"  It  is  Piorette!  it  is  Marc!  "  cried  broken,  harsh 
voices,  such  as  might  have  belonged  to  skeletons; 
"  they  are  coming  to  our  aid !  " 

And  all  the  wretched  creatures  tried  to  rise: 
some  sobbed ;  but  they  had  no  longer  any  tears  to 
shed.  A  second  report  brought  them  upright. 

"  They  are  firing  in  detachments,"  said  Hullin. 
"  Ours  are  doing  so  too.  "We  have  soldiers  in  lines  I 
France  forever! " 


314     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

"Yes,"  replied  Jerome.  "Mother  Catherine 
was  right;  the  Phalsbourgers  are  coming  to  our  as- 
sistance; they  are  descending  the  hills  of  the  Sarre; 
and  there  is  Piorette,  who  is  now  attacking  by 
Blanru." 

Indeed,  the  fusillade  now  began  to  resound  on 
both  sides  at  once,  toward  the  plateau  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes  and  the  heights  of  Kilberi. 

The  two  chiefs  embraced;  and,  as  they  groped 
along  in  the  dark  night,  seeking  to  reach  the  edge 
of  the  rock,  suddenly  Materne  cried  out,  "  Take 
care,  the  precipice  is  near!  " 

They  stopped  short  and  looked  down;  but  noth- 
ing was  to  be  seen:  a  current  of  cold  air  ascending 
from  the  abyss  alone  warned  them  of  the  danger. 
The  peaks  and  gorges  round  were  all  plunged  in 
darkness.  On  the  hill-sides  in  front  the  flashes  of 
the  fusillade  passed  like  lightning,  illuminating 
now  an  old  oak,  now  the  heather,  or  the  black  out- 
line of  some  rock;  and  groups  of  men  were  coining 
and  going,  as  though  in  the  midst  of  a  conflagration. 
Two  thousand  feet  below,  in  the  depth  of  the  gorge, 
could  be  heard  dull  sounds  of  galloping  horses,  and 
the  clamors  of  command.  Now,  the  shout  of  a 
mountaineer  hailing  another  was  prolonged  from 
peak  to  peak,  and  arose  to  the  Falkenstein  like  a 
sigh. 


"BATTLE    OF   THE    ROCKS"  315 

"It  is  Marc!"  said  Hullin;  "it  is  Marc's 
voice!  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  Marc,  who  bids  us  have  courage," 
replied  Jerome. 

The  others  looked  around  them  with  outstretched 
necks,  their  hands  grasping  the  rock.  The  fusil- 
lade continued  with  a  vivacity  that  betrayed  the 
fury  of  the  battle ;  but  nothing  could  be  seen.  Oh ! 
how  they  wished  to  take  part  in  this  supreme  strug- 
gle! With  what  ardor  would  they  not  have  thrown 
themselves  into  the  fire!  The  fear  of  being  aban- 
doned once  more,  of  seeing  by  daylight  their  de- 
fenders retreating,  rendered  them  speechless  with, 
terror. 

Day  began  to  dawn;  the  pale  light  arose  behind 
the  black  summits,  and  began  to  illumine  the 
gloomy  valleys,  and  soon  the  fog  of  the  abyss 
turned  to  silvery  mists.  Hullin,  looking  across  the 
openings  of  these  clouds,  at  length  made  out  the 
position.  The  Germans  had  lost  the  heights  of 
Valtin,  and  the  plain  of  Bois-de-Chenes.  They 
were  massed  in  the  valley  of  Charmes,  at  the  foot 
of  the  Falkenstein,  so  as  to  obtain  shelter  from  their 
adversaries'  fire.  Piorette,  master  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes,  had  thrown  out  outworks  in  front  of  the 
rock,  on  the  side  of  the  descent  to  Charmes.  He 
was  pacing  to  and  fro,  his  pipe  in  his  moiith,  and 


316     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

carbine  slung  across  his  shoulders;  and  the  blue 
axes  of  the  wood-cutters  glistened  in  the  rising  sun. 
On  the  left  of  the  village,  toward  Valtin,  in,  the 
midst  of  the  furze,  Marc  Dives,  on  a  small  black 
horse,  with  a  long  tail,  his  blade  by  his  side,  point- 
ed to  the  ruins  and  the  sledge  road;  while  an  in- 
fantry officer  and  a  few  National  Guards  were  lis- 
tening to  him.  Gaspard  Lefevre  stood  alone,  in 
front  of  the  group,  leaning  on  his  gun;  and,  on  the 
summit  of  the  hill,  by  the  wood,  two  or  three  hun- 
dred men  were  keeping  watch. 

The  sight  of  the  small  number  of  their  defenders 
caused  the  hearts  of  the  besieged  to  grow  fearful; 
all  the  more  so,  as  the  Germans  were  seven  or  eight 
times  superior  in  numbers,  and  had  already  begun 
to  form  columns  of  attack,  to  regain  the  positions 
they  had  lost.  Horsemen  were  conveying  on  all 
sides  the  general's  orders,  and  the  bayonets  began 
to  defile. 

"  Tt  is  all  over,"  said  Hullin  to  Jerome.  "  What 
are  five  or  six  hundred  men  to  do  against  four  thou- 
sand in  line  of  battle?  The  Phalsbourgers  will  re- 
turn to  their  houses  and  say,  '  We  have  done  our 
duty.'  And  Piorette  will  be  crushed." 

The  others  thought  so  too;  and  their  despair  was 
brought  to  a  climax  when  they  suddenly  saw  a  long 
file  of  Cossacks  riding  furiously  along  the  valley 


"BATTLE   OF   THE   ROCKS"  317 

of  Charmes,  with  Yegof  the  madman  galloping  like 
the  wind  at  their  head,  his  beard,  horse's  tail,  dog- 
skin, and  red  hair  floating  wildly  in  the  air.  He 
looked  up  at  the  rock,  and  brandished  his  lance 
above  his  head.  Reaching  the  bottom  of  the  valley, 
he  made  at  once  for  the  enemy's  staff,  and  coming 
up  to  the  general,  he  indicated  by  gestures  the  other 
side  of  the  plateau  of  Bois-de-Chenes. 

"Ah,  the  brigand!"  shouted  Hullin.  "See, 
he  tells  them  that  Piorette  has  no  outworks 
on  that  side,  that  they  must  go  round  the  moun- 
tain." 

In  fact,  a  column  began  immediately  to  march 
in  that  direction,  while  another  went  toward  the 
outworks  to  mask  the  movement  of  the  first. 

"  Materne,"  cried  Jean-Claude,  "  is  there  no 
means  of  sending  a  ball  into  the  madman?  " 

The  old  hunter  shook  his  head. 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  it  is  impossible;  he  is  out  of 
range." 

Just  then,  Catherine  Lefevre  gave  a  wild  scream 
like  a  hawk. 

"  Crush  them,  crush  them,  as  they  did  at  the 
Blutfeld!" 

And  the  old  woman,  an  instant  before  so  feeble, 
threw  herself  on  a  mass  of  rock,  lifted  it  with  both 
hands,  advanced,  with  her  streaming  gray  hair,  bent 


3i8     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

over  to  the  edge  of  the  abyss,  and  the  rock  dashed 
through  the  space  beneath. 

A  terrible  crash  resounded  below,  pieces  of  pine 
flew  out  on  all  sides,  the  great  stone  rebounded  a 
hundred  feet  away,  and  descending  the  steep  slope 
with  fresh  impulse,  struck  Yegof,  and  crushed  him 
at  the  feet  of  the  enemy's  general.  This  was  but 
the  work  of  a  few  seconds. 

Catherine,  upright  on  the  edge  of  the  rock 
laughed  with  a  rattling  sound,  which  seemed  as 
though  it  would  never  end. 

The  others,  as  though  all  animated  with  new  life, 
precipitated  themselves  on  the  ruins  of  the  old  cas- 
tle, shouting:  "  Slay  them!  slay  them!  Crush 
themasattheBlutfeld!" 

It  is  impossible  to  imagine  a  more  terrible  scene. 
These  beings,  at  death's  very  door,  lean  and  hag- 
gard as  skeletons,  found  strength  for  the  carnage. 
They  no  longer  stumbled,  they  trembled  no  more; 
each  one  lifted  his  stone  and  threw  it  down  the 
precipice,  then  returned  to  take  another,  without 
even  looking  to  see  what  was  passing  below. 

Imagine  the  stupor  of  the  "  kaiserlichs  "  at  this 
deluge  of  ruins  and  rocks.  All  had  turned  at  the 
sound  of  the  stones  bounding  above  through  the 
bushes  and  clumps  of  trees.  At  first  they  stopped 
as  though  petrified;  but  looking  higher  up,  and 


"BATTLE   OF   THE   ROCKS"  319 

seeing  more  and  more  stones  descending,  and  above 
it  all  the  spectres  coming  and  going,  lifting  their 
arms,  and  continually  discharging  fresh  burdens — 
seeing  their  comrades  crushed,  fifteen  or  twenty  at 
a  time,  an  immense  cry  went  up  from  the  valley 
of  Charmes  to  the  Falkenstein,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fusillade  which  they  kept  up  on  every  side, 
the  Germans  scampered  away  to  escape  this  fearful 
death. 

In  the  thickest  of  the  rout,  the  enemy's  general 
contrived  to  rally  a  battalion,  and  descend  slowly 
toward  the  village. 

There  was  something  grand  and  dignified  about 
this  man,  so  calm  in  the  midst  of  disaster.  He 
turned  from  time  to  time  with  a  gloomy  look  to 
watch  the  bounding  rocks,  which  made  ghastly 
havoc  in  his  columns. 

Jean-Claude  observed  him,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  intoxication  of  his  triumph  and  the  certi- 
tude of  having  escaped  famine,  the  old  soldier  could 
not  suppress  a  feeling  of  admiration. 

"Look,"  said  he  to  Jerome,  "  he  &cts  as  he  did  on 
returning  from  the  Donon  and  Grosmann:  he  is 
the  last  to  retire,  and  yields  only  bit  by  bit.  There 
are,  indeed,  brave  fellows  in  every  country!  " 

Marc  Dives  and  Piorette,  the  witnesses  of  this 
stroke  of  fortune,  then  descended  into  the  midst  of 


320     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN    1814 

the  fir-trees,  to  try  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy.  But  the  battalion,  reduced  to  half  its 
strength,  formed  into  square  behind  the  village  of 
Charmes,  and  slowly  ascended  the  valley  of  the 
Sarre,  stopping  sometimes,  like  a  wounded  boar 
who  turns  to  look  at  the  huntsmen,  whenever  Pio- 
rette's  men  or  those  of  Phalsbourg  tried  to  press  too 
nearly  upon  them. 

Thus  terminated  the  great  battle  of  the  Falken- 
stein,  known  in  the  mountains  under  the  name  of 
the  Battle  of  the  Rocks. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

CONCLUSION 

THE  combat  was  hardly  over,  when,  toward 
eight  o'clock,  Marc  Dives,  Gaspard,  and  about 
thirty  mountaineers,  laden  with  provisions,  ascend- 
ed the  Falkenstein.  What  a  spectacle  awaited 
them!  The  besieged,  stretched  on  the  earth,  ap- 
peared to  be  dead.  It  seemed  useless  to  shake  them, 
to  cry  into  their  ears;  "  Jean-Claude!  Catherine? 
Jerome!  "  There  came  no  reply.  Gaspard  Le- 
fevre,  seeing  his  mother  and  Louise  immovable, 
with  clinched  teeth,  told  Marc,  that  if  they  did  not 
return  to  life,  he  would  blow  out  his  brains  with  his 
gun.  Marc  replied  that  each  man  must  do  as  he 
liked;  but  for  his  part  he  should  not  do  likewise  on 
Hexe-Baizel's  account.  At  length  old  Colon,  hav- 
ing laid  his  burden  down  on  a  stone,  Kasper  Ma- 
terne  opened  his  eyes,  and  seeing  the  provisions,  his 
teeth  began  to  chatter  like  those  of  a  fox  pursued 
by  the  hounds. 

They  immediately  understood  the  meaning  of 

21  321 


322     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

this  symptom;  and  Marc  Dives,  going  from  one  to 
the  other,  passed  his  gourd  under  their  noses,  which 
sufficed  to  bring  them  to.  They  wanted  to  drink 
its  contents  all  up  at  once;  but  Doctor  Lorquin, 
notwithstanding  his  condition,  had  still  enough 
sense  to  warn  Marc  not  to  allow  them  to  do  so,  and 
the  slightest  action  of  choking  would  be  fatal  to 
them.  Each  one,  therefore,  only  received  a  morsel 
of  bread,  an  egg,  and  a  glass  of  wine,  which  won- 
derfully revived  their  spirits;  then  Catherine,  Lou- 
ise, and  the  others,  were  laid  on  sledges  and  were 
brought  down  to  the  village. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  enthusiasm  and 
joy  of  their  friends  when  they  saw  them  return, 
leaner  than  Lazarus  when  he  rose  from  his  grave. 
They  gazed  at  one  another,  and  embraced,  and  the 
process  was  repeated  on  the  arrival  of  every  new- 
comer from  Abreschwiller,  Dagsburg,  St.  Quirin, 
or  elsewhere. 

Marc  Dives  was  obliged  to  relate  more  than 
twenty  times  the  story  of  his  journey  to  Phals- 
bourg.  The  brave  smuggler  had  had  no  luck. 
After  having  miraculously  escaped  from  the  balls 
of  the  "  kaiserlichs,"  he  got  into  the  valley  of 
Spartzprod,  and  fell  into  the  midst  of  a  band  of 
Cossacks,  who  ransacked  him  from  top  to  toe.  He 
had  been  compelled  to  wander  for  two  weeks  around 


CONCLUSION 


323 


'the  Kussian  posts  which  surrounded  the  town,  ex- 
posed to  the  continual  fire  of  their  sentries,  and 
running  endless  risks  of  being  taken  as  a  spy,  be- 
fore being  able  to  get  into  the  town.  Then  the 
commandant,  Meunier,  at  first  refused  to  give  any 
succor,  assigning  the  weakness  of  his  garrison  as  an 
excuse,  and  only  at  the  pressing  petitions  of  the 
towns-folk  at  length  consented  to  detach  two  com- 
panies. Listening  to  his  recital,  the  mountaineers 
gave  vent  to  their  admiration  of  Marc's  courage 
and  perseverance  in  the  midst  of  danger. 

"  "Well,"  replied  the  tall  smuggler  good-humored- 
ly  to  those  who  thus  congratulated  him,  "  I  have 
only  done  my  duty ;  could  I  have  allowed  my  com- 
rades to  perish?  I  well  knew  it  would  not  be  easy; 
those  rascally  Cossacks  are  sharper  than  the  cus- 
toms' folks;  they  sent  you  a  league  off  like  crows; 
but  all  the  same,  we  have  outwitted  them." 

Five  or  six  days  later  everybody  was  on  the 
alert;  Captain  Vidal,  from  Phalsbourg,  had  left 
twenty-five  men  to  guard  the  powder;  Gaspard 
Lef evre  was  of  the  number,  and  the  sturdy  fellow 
went  down  every  morning  to  the  village.  The  al- 
lies had  all  passed  into  Lorraine,  and  were  no  lon- 
ger seen  in  Alsace,  except  around  the  fortresses. 
Soon  after  came  the  news  of  the  victories  of  Champ- 
Aubert  and  Montmirail;  but  a  great  misfortune 


324     THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

was  at  hand;  for  the  allies,  notwithstanding  the 
heroism  of  our  army  and  the  genius  of  the  Em- 
peror, entered  Paris. 

It  was  a  terrible  shock  to  Jean-Claude  and  Cath- 
erine, Materne,  Jerome  and  all  the  mountaineers; 
but  the  history  of  these  events  does  not  belong  to 
this  tale.  It  has  already  been  related  by  others. 

Peace  having  been  made,  the  farm  of  Bois-de- 
Chenes  was  rebuilt  in  the  spring;  the  wood-cutters, 
the  shoemakers,  masons,  wood-floaters,  and  all  the 
workmen  of  the  district,  lent  a  hand  in  the  work. 

Toward  the  same  time,  the  army  having  been 
disbanded,  Gaspard  cut  off  his  mustaches  and  his 
marriage  with  Louise  took  place. 

On  the  day  of  the  wedding  all  the  combatants 
of  the  Falkenstein  and  Donon  came  to  the  farm, 
where  they  were  received  with  open  doors  and  win- 
dows. Each  brought  his  present  to  the  newly  mar- 
ried pair;  Jerome,  small  shoes  for  Louise;  Ma- 
terne and  his  sons,  a  black  cock,  the  most  loving  of 
birds,  as  all  know;  and  Dives,  packets  of  smuggled 
tobacco  for  Gaspard;  and  Doctor  Lorquin  a  fine 
set  of  baby-linen.  Tables  were  spread  out,  even  in 
the  granaries  and  sheds.  How  much  wine,  bread, 
meat,  and  tarts  was  consumed  I  cannot  say;  but 
what  I  am  sure  of  is,  that  Jean-Claude,  who  had 
been  low-spirited  ever  since  the  entry  of  the  allies 


CONCLUSION 


325 


into  Paris,  revived  on  that  day,  and  sang  the  old 
song  of  his  youth  as  cheerfully  as  when  he  shoul- 
dered his  gun  and  set  out  for  Valmy,  Jemmapes, 
and  Fleurus.  The  echoes  of  the  Falkenstein  re- 
peated in  the  distance  that  old  patriotic  song;  the 
grandest  and  noblest  that  has  ever  been  heard  by 
man.  Catherine  Lefevre  kept  time  on  the  table 
with  the  handle  of  her  knife;  and  if  it  be  true,  as 
many  say,  that  the  dead  come  to  listen  when  they 
are  spoken  of,  our  departed  friends  must  have  been 
happy,  and  "  The  King  of  Diamonds  "  have  fumed 
in  his  red  beard. 

Toward  midnight,  Hullin  arose,  and  addressing 
the  newly  married  pair,  said :  "  You  will  have  fine 
children;  I  will  jump  them  on  my  knees,  I  will 
teach  them  my  old  song,  and  then  I  shall  go  to  re- 
join my  old  comrades!  " 

So  saying  he  embraced  Louise,  and  arm  in  arm 
with  Marc  Dives  and  Jerome,  descended  to  his  cot- 
tage, followed  by  the  rest,  who  sang  together  the 
fine  old  song.  A  more  beautiful  night  was  never 
seen:  numberless  stars  shone  out  in  the  dark  blue 
sky;  the  shrubs  on  the  hill-side,  where  so  many 
brave  fellows  had  found  a  grave,  quivered  slightly 
in  the  breeze.  Every  one  felt  happy  and  softened; 
they  shook  hands  on  the  threshold  of  the  small 
house,  and  wished  each  other  "good-night,"  and 


326     THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE   IN   1814 

departed,  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  to  their  differ- 
ent villages. 

"  Good-night,  Materne,  Jerome,  Dives,  Piorette 
— good-night !  "  cried  Jean-Claude. 

His  old  friends  turned  back,  waving  their  hats, 
and  said  to  themselves:  "  There  are  some  days  when 
one  is  very  happy  on  the  earth.  Ah,  if  there  were 
never  any  plagues,  or  wars,  or  famines;  if  men 
would  but  agree  to  love  and  help  each  other;  if 
they  would  but  live  in  peace  together,  what  a  para- 
dise this  world  would  be  1  " 


